Watson stars as Chennai down Delhi
MS Dhoni-led unit register a 13-run win in Pune
Shane Watson played a stunning knock to help Chennai Super Kings in registering a 13-run win against Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Pune on Monday.
The day started with the visitor’s captain winning the toss and opting to field first. Their decision, however, backfired completely as the home side got off to a flying start, courtesy 102-run opening partnership between Watson and Faf du Plessis.
However, once Du Plessis departed in the 11th over, Chennai lost two more in the space of three overs and were reduced to 130 for three.At that stage, captain MS Dhoni and veteran middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu put up a 69-run partnership for the fourth-wicket and helped the home side in registering a mammoth total 211 for the loss of four wickets.
Watson finished the innings with the top score of 78 off 40 balls with the help of four fours and seven sixes. He was well supported by Dhoni and Rayudu, who scored 51, 41 off 22 and 24 balls respectively.For Delhi, leg-spinner Amit Mishra, all-rounders Vijay Shankar and Glenn Maxwell claimed a wicket each.
In reply, Delhi had a poor beginning as they lost four wickets four 74 runs in the ninth over. But an 88-run partnership between wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and Shankar kept the visitors alive in the contest.
But their effort went in vain as the home side managed to restrict Delhi to 198 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Pant finished the innings with the top score of 79 off 45 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes, whereas Shankar scored 54 off 31 with the help of one four and five sixes.
For Chennai, pacer KM Asif claimed two, whereas fast-bowler Lungi Ngidi and left-arm spinner Ravendra Jadeja claimed a wicket each.
