Sanju Samson Shines Bright as CSK Outclass Delhi Capitals by 23 Runs
The Chennai Super Kings got their first win of the season at home, beating the Delhi Capitals by 23 runs. Sanju Samson played a brilliant innings, scoring a century and setting up the match. Then the bowlers did a great job and restricted Delhi Capitals to 189 runs in 20 overs.
DC skipper Axar Patel called it right at the toss and elected to bowl first. Sanju Samson finally found some big runs under his belt and hammered 15 fours and 4 maximums in his unbeaten 115 off 56 deliveries. Ayush Mhatre scored 59 off 36 balls before being retired hurt helping CSK to 212/2 in 20 overs on what was a sticky surface in the beginning but turned into a belter as the game progressed.
Delhi Capitals also got off to a good start with KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka adding 61 runs for the first wicket. Khaleel Ahmed's round the wicket bouncer had Rahul surprised as he lobbed a simple catch to Jamie Overton for 18 off 10. Nissanka was the more successful opener tonight hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 41 off just 24 balls. Khaleel at short fine leg dropped a simple chance off Anshul Kamboj's bowling but the right armer had Nissanka caught the very next ball.
Chennai Super Kings Beat Delhi Capitals by 23 Runs as Sanju Samson Shines with a Century
Sarfaraz Khan should be credited for the 3rd wicket that came CSK's way as he literally flew to his right at backward point to send Axar Patel packing for 1 off 2. Sameer Rizvi who started his season with 2 match winning fifties, followed it with a duck in the previous game had just 6 to score off 9 balls. With 76/4 in 8 overs - two South Africans - David Miller and Tristan Stubbs dug in and added 45 runs for the 5th wicket before a quickfire good length delivery from Overton had Miller's bails flying.
Ashutosh Sharma (19 off 10) joined Stubbs as the impact sub and added 28 runs for the 6th wicket but perished against Noor Ahmad while attempting a big heave. Wickets kept falling at the other end and controversy aroused when Stubbs wasn't allowed a change in gloves while CSK opted to refer a wide given on field off Overton. Stubbs holed out the very next ball and even threw his helmet inside the dressing room. With 28 needed off the final over, Kuldeep Yadav lost his wicket on the first ball with Lungi Ngidi edging the final ball of the match to Gurjapneet at slip, Anshul Kamboj finishing things off with 3/35 but it was Overton's 4/18 in 4 overs that slid the game completely towards CSK.
Only left arm spinner and impact sub Akeal Hosein remained wicketless with all of Gurjapneet, Khaleel and Noor finishing with a wicket apiece. With 2 points to their name, CSK pick themselves up from the bottom of the table to sit 9th, KKR taking the bottom spot with just 1 point to their name. Delhi Capitals still in the top 4 with 4 points in 4 games.