Delhi Capitals score easy 7-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings

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Courtesy of dominating batting performance of Prithvi Shaw (72) and Shikar Dhawan (85), Delhi Capitals rolled over Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets in their open match of IPL 2021. Chasing a target of 189 runs, the Delhi Capitals’ openers in a partnership of 138 runs put the Chennai Super King blowers to the sword bringing up the 100 in the 11th over of the innings.

Prithvi Shaw’s batting resurrection story post a forgettable tour of Australia augurs well for Indian cricket. Continuing his scintillating form, from Vijay Hazare Trophy where he scored 827 runs, Shaw scored yet another flawless fifty, his seventh in IPL studded with nine fours and three sixes.

Chennai blowers looked all at sea while Shaw scored all around the park at a strike rate of 189.47, relieving his partner Dhawan of the pressure to score quickly during the power-play.

Dhawan brought out his percentage shot – sweep, to counter the spin of Moen Ali and Ravinder Jadeja. Post scoring a sensible fifty, the southpaw changed gears and reached 85 off 54 balls with 10 boundaries and 2 over-boundaries. In the process, Dhawan also became third highest run-scorer in IPL history with 5282 runs in his 177th IPL match. He contributed immensely in the field as well, taking three crucial catches during CSK’s innings. Fittingly he was adjugated man of the match for his all-around performance.

Earlier in the match, DC seamers put the CSK batsmen on the defensive from the word go, as they chipped away 2 wickets in the first 3 overs while giving away only 7 runs in the process. In his comeback match, Suresh Raina brought some stability to the innings scoring 54 off 36 balls before being run out by Chris Woakes. Cameos from Ambati Rayadu (23 off 16 balls), Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 17 balls), and Sam Curran (34 off 15 balls) helped CSK to reach 188 runs for the loss of 7 wickets, while MS Dhoni was dismissed for a two-ball duck by Avnesh Khan.

This is DC’s 9th win over CSK in their 24th faceoff. The two teams are set to meet again in their reverse encounter on May 21 at the Eden Gardens.