Chennai: Chennai Super Kings bowlers exposed the vulnerability of the Delhi Daredevils’ top-order as the defending champions thrashed the current table toppers by nine wickets in an IPL match, here on Saturday.
Opting to bowl on a track where the ball did a fair bit during initial stages, CSK bowlers led by Ben Hilfenhaus restricted Daredevils to a meagre 114 for five.The total was never going to be enough and CSK openers Mike Hussey (38, 32 balls, 5×4, 1×6) and Murali Vijay (48 no, 40 balls, 5×4, 1×6)ensured that there are no hiccups as they put on 75 runs for the opening stand in first 10 overs.
The emphatic victory with 28 balls to spare also ensured that CSK with 15 points moved upto fourth spot ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore.
It was Hilfenhaus who set up the convincing win by polishing off the top three batsmen in the opposition line-up in his first spell of three overs thereby ending Daredevils’ chances of putting up a sizeable total.
He removed skipper Virender Sehwag (4), last match’s centurion David Warner (8) and Naman Ojha (3) to reduce Delhi to 24 for three in only first five overs.
In another couple of deliveries, it was four down with Mahela Jayawardene (8) also back in the dug-out courtesy Albie Morkel.
Hilfenhaus’ first spell figures read 3-0-14-3 and he ultimately finished with three for 27 courtesy a few big shots by Yogesh Nagar in the penultimate over. Nagar (43 not out, 47 balls, 1×4, 1×6) and former India player Y Venugopal Rao (27, 24, 2×6) added 48 runs for the fifth wicket. (PTI)