Twitter Reactions: Daredevils run out of steam against bulked up Chennai Super Kings

Chennai were dealt with a jolt by the Mumbai Indians, their third defeat and the team slipped to number three in the points table. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, looked like a completely different unit under the inspired leadership of Shreyas Iyer. CSK batting first posted a humongous 211/4, it certainly looked like a par total and though Delhi tried really hard but it was still beyond their reach and Chennai reclaimed the top spot with their 6th win.

Chennai Super Kings batting first had a brilliant start, though they had to change the opening combination with Faf du Plessis in the XI, Ambati Rayudu didn’t accompany his partner Shane Watson. CSK made wholesale changes as they du Plessis along with KM Asif and Lungi Ngidi to the team. A lot didn’t change for them at the top as Watson soon developed a liking for the Delhi Daredevils bowling attack.

He pulled, flicked and slogged the over the ropes and that was often. The ball only left Watson’s bat to land into the stands of the MCA Stadium. Faf departed after a run a ball 33, Suresh Raina was out cheap, for just 1 bowled by Glenn Maxwell. Rayudu then walking in at 4 batted like it was all the same. He played some delightful shots and hit the ball around the park. Watson in the mean-time was batting well over fifty and was finally dismissed on 78 from 40 balls.

Rayudu also contributed 41 from 22. But one man soon had all the attention on him. The big guy MS Dhoni walked out and the crowd was waiting for another of his power-packed knocks that he has been producing this season and he didn’t disappoint. Dhoni hit Amit Mishra for a six down the ground and made his intentions clear, he spoiled the figures for Trent Boult and Liam Plunkett who had had an otherwise good game before that. He got to his fifty in just 20 balls and in the end remained unbeaten on 51.

It wasn’t an easy chase for Daredevils, they needed a good start and Prithvi Shaw promised that hitting Asif for a couple of boundaries but he couldn’t control his third shot and was caught in the circle. Skipper Shreyas Iyer couldn’t make a lot of difference and was run out on 13. Colin Munro played a few shots but holed out in the deep trying to over attack Asif.

Rishabh Pant hadn’t given up yet and though the required rate was mounting well towards 20 he hit the ball big and clean to keep his team in the hunt. He hit 7 boundaries and 4 sixes on his way to 79 from 45 balls. While the DD fans were disappointed after his dismissal Vijay Shankar didn’t give up just yet, he played the best knock of his IPL career and remained unbeaten on 54 from 30 balls as his team lost the match by 13 runs.

Here is how Twitterati reacted during the course of the exciting match: