CSK beat Delhi to atop IPL 2018 table
What's the story
Chennai Super Kings rode on Shane Watson and MS Dhoni's magic to beat Delhi Daredevils in match number 30 of 2018 Indian Premier League. Batting first, CSK put a commendable score of 211/4 and in reply Daredevils could only manage 198/5. Watson top scored with 78 as MSD hit a 22-ball fifty to propel CSK to 200+ mark. Here is the match report.
Lone hero
Pant, Shankar blitz not enough for DD
Daredevils were jolted when they lost four wickets for 74 runs. The top order failed once again as it was left to Rishabh Pant and Vijay Shankar to get going. Pant crossed the 300+ run-mark this IPL after a blazing 79 off 45 balls. This was his 2nd fifty of IPL 2018. Shankar too slammed a 28-ball 50, but DD could not get there.
Dazzling start
CSK get off to a flyer
The combination of Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis put on an opening stand of 102 runs. It took away the game from Delhi and they could not make a comeback from there on. Faf made run-a-ball 33 runs as Watson went on to score a massive 78 run knock. Though DD got Suresh Raina next, CSK made sure they batted long and strong.
Data
Rayudu keeps on impressing
Purple Cap holder Ambati Rayudu was once again excellent, coming in the middle-order this time and hitting a 24-ball 41 run-knock. He hit five fours and a six as he raced to 370 runs in IPL 2018. His consistency has been the story for CSK.
Brilliance
MSD on a different level altogether
MS Dhoni is on a different level. He has notched the highest strike-rate of his IPL career in 2018. Dhoni has a strike-rate of 169.23 in 8 innings. His 22-ball fifty was the second fastest recorded by him in IPL. His best was a 20-ball 50 against RCB in 2012. Dhoni has 286 runs this season and is the fifth highest run-getter.
Data
CSK batsmen are run-machines
This was Chennai's 16th 200+ score in the history of IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore (14) and Kings XI Punjab (12) follow the two-time champions Chennai in amassing 200+ scores.