DC vs CSK: MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings on Saturday became the second team to confirm their spot in the playoffs of IPL 2023. Led by a special all-around show, the Super Kings crushed Delhi Capitals by a huge margin of 77 runs. With this CSK have reached the playoffs of IPL for the 12th time in history.
It was a crucial match for Dhoni's men as they needed a win to set their name in stone for the playoffs and they achieved the same in some style. A sublime batting performance, led by the openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad, powered CSK to their third-highest total in the season - 223/3. Later the bowling department choked the Capitals batters and restricted them to 146/9 to secure a win.
The CSK openers continued their brilliant run in the 16th edition of IPL. They produced their second hundred-plus partnership of the season as they provided a blistering start to the visitors. Due to their ability to hit the boundaries at will, CSK amassed 52 of the first six overs without losing a wicket. The middle overs were even more fruitful for Chennai. The openers played much part into it. CSK went from 52/0 after 6 to 167/1 after 16 overs. Both Conway and Gaikwad got to their fifties. While Gaikwad made 79 off 50 balls, Conway smoked 87 from 52 balls. Meanwhile, the finish was powered by Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja. Chetan Sakariya was the least economical DC bowler, who gave 36 runs in 4 overs for one wicket.
In their defence, Chennai kept taking wickets at regular intervals to let the Capitals stay lagging behind. The likes of Prithvi Shaw, Phil Salt and Rilee Rossouw, all fell in the powerplay. However, David Warner kept his march going and he smashed another fifty. Axar Patel showed glimpse of his pure form yet again as he made 15 off 8. But apart from Warner's 86 off 58, DC lacked any notable contributions. Deepak Chahar was the pick of the CSK bowlers as he scalped 3 wickets in his 4 overs.
