Chennai Super Kings (CSK) prevailed over a resurgent Delhi Daredevils (DD) by a mere 13 runs in a high-scoring encounter at the Maharashtra cricket Association (MCA) Stadium last night. The win, which helped CSK regain its top position at the points table (it had lost the top spot after its loss to Mumbai Indians on Saturday), didn’t come easy for CSK and its fans for sure!

Chasing an improbable 212 for a victory, DD lost wickets at regular intervals and it was their fifth wicket pair of diminutive left-handed wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Vijay Shankar which took DD within a couple of strikes of victory. Last three balls of the 20 th over, which fetched only 3 runs, poured cold water on DD’s hopes of an exciting and memorable victory.

It was the 22-year old Durban-born South African pacer Lungisani Ngidi, who gave a very good account of himself during the Test series against India a few months back, who literally saved the day for CSK by bowling a tight last over giving 14 runs (including two wides) when 28 was needed off the last over. He finished with figures of 4-0- 26-1, a rather commendable effort on debut as he had to wait for many matches to make his debut since he had to leave home early in the tournament to attend his father’s funeral and could return only a couple of days back.Ngidi took Deepak Chahar’s place in the team after the latter was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Kerala-born 24-year old K.M. Asif, who replaced non-performing Shardul Thakur, was another debutant who shone today. Though a touch expensive, Asif bowled at a good pace and picked up both the openers. It was an irony that both Asif and Bravo gave away 43 runs in 3 overs, one of the rare occasions when Bravo didn’t get to bowl his full quota of 4 overs in a T20 match involving CSK.

 
Shreyas Iyer ran himself out while Glen Maxwell’s poor form with the bat continued Delhi had made only 80/4 in 9 overs and required 132 runs in 11 overs when Rishabh Pant showed his class by putting the CSK attack to sword.Vijay Shankar, who kept a low-profile till Pant was out for a well-made 79 off 45 balls with seven 4’s and four 6’s, exploded in the 19 th over by hitting three sixes off Bravo’s 3 rd and the innings’ 19 th over. M.S. Dhoni, usually a cool customer, showed his frustration at the way Bravo was being taken for runs. Thanks to Ngidi’s controlled last over, CSK beat DD by 13 runs to regain their top spot on the points table.

Earlier, DD won the toss and mistakenly asked CSK to bat first. Shane Watson and du Plessis put on a rollicking 101-run stand for the first wicket in less than 11 overs. Raina got out cheaply and Rayudu and Watson continued the momentum when the marauding Watson (who hit 78 runs off 40 balls with four 4’s and seven 6’s) got out at the wrong time. In-walked M.S. Dhoni and played a whirlwind knock of 51 off just 22 balls with two 4’s and five mammoth 6’s, playing like he has always played!

Man of the Match: Shane Watson

Brief scores: CSK: 211/4 in 20 overs (du Plessis 33, Shane Watson 78, Rayudu 41, M.S. Dhoni 51*, Maxwell 1-5) beat Delhi Daredevils 198/5 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 26, Rishabh Pant 79, Vijay Shankar 54*, Asif 2-43) by 13 runs