DC: 172/5 (20 overs)

CSK: 173/6 (19.4 overs)

Man of the Match: Ruturaj Gaikwad

It was a familiar setting for CSK and a mighty familiar man was at the crease: MSD. Needing 13 off Tom Curran’s final over, CSK lost Moeen Ali in the first ball, thus brining Dhoni to face. MSD had played the last three balls of the 19th over and had hit a towering six. Onus was clearly on him, though Jadeja was still to bat. It was as if MSD wanted to prove to himself, more than to others, that he still had it in him to play competitive cricket at the highest level and at crucial junctures of the match.

MSD hits 12 off 3 balls in the 20th over

MSD hit the second ball over covers for a boundary, got another four off the third ball via a ‘French cut’ to fine-leg. Curran then bowled a wide, leaving CSK needing just four off three balls. MSD sent the fourth ball calmly to the mid-wicket fence to bring the crowd to raptures. Dhoni hitting the winning run through a boundary is the dream and fantasy of every CSK fan; CSK thus became the first team to enter the IPL finals.

Prithvi & Pant shine for DC

Earlier, CSK won the toss and asked DC to bat first. The left-right combination of Dhawan & Shah did very well to reach 36 n 3.1 overs; Dhawan fell for 6 while Shreyas made just 1 off 8 balls. Axar Patel was the surprising No.4 for DC but he didn’t last long. It was the diminutive Prithvi who kept it going for DC with excellent shots all around the park. His 34-ball 60 had seven 4’s and three huge 6’s.

CSK bowlers peg DC back in middle overs

Deepak and Hazlewood did well for CSK in the first 10 overs while spinners Jadeja and Moeen Ali choked the DC batters in the middle-overs. DC did finish nicely, though, thanks to an unbeaten 35-ball 51 by captain Pant who hit three 4’s and two 6’s.

Uthappa, Ruturaj take CSK closer to victory

CSK’s reply was shattered with in-form du Plessis’ wicket in the very first over. Ruturaj and Robin Uthappa took charge and added an invaluable 110 runs off the next 12.5 overs. Uthappa, playing in place of Raina, hit booming shots and made a rapid-fire 44-ball 62 to dominate the partnership. He hit seven 4’s and two 6’s. ‘Man of the Match’ Ruturaj took to steadying the innings after Uthappa’s departure to make a well-compiled 50-ball 70 with five 4’s and two 6’s. After Ruturaj and Moeen fell in quick succession, MSD took charge to guide his team to its 9th IPL finals.

DC to wait for winner of tomorrow’s RCB Vs KKR match

DC still as a shot at the title; it now will wait for Monday’s match – the ‘Eliminator’ – wherein RCB takes o KKR. Loser would be eliminated from the tourney while the winner would get to play DC again on Wednesday (13th October). Winner of this match would meet CSK in the finals on Friday (15th October). CSK now has four full days to prepare itself for the grand finals!

Picture Courtesy: IPLT20.COM