IPL 2015: Delhi Daredevils restrict Chennai Super Kings to 150 for 7

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) scored 150 for seven against Delhi Daredevils (DD) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 opener at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. CSK had started very well, but DD fought back well to restrict them to their eventual score on what seems to be a slow wicket.

There were some surprises in the DD unit. Zaheer Khan and Mohammed Shami were missing in action due to fitness concerns. Quinton de Kock wasn’t picked and Angelo Mathews was unavailable. So, DD picked Nathan Coulter-Nile and Dominic Joseph for this game. Albie Morkel made it through to the playing XI.

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Morkel began proceedings and was smashed for 16 runs in the first over. Dwayne Smith eased three boundaries off the bat in the first over. CSK were off and running. The stage was set for Brendon McCullum, who faced Coulter-Nile in the second over. The first ball was edged over slips. He went to smash the second and got a top-edge. Suresh Raina had a short stay in the middle as he was bowled by Coulter-Nile for four. The Australian bowled a good spell upfront, taking two wickets for 10 runs in his first two overs.

Thereafter, Smith and Faf du Plessis constructed a partnership of sorts. Both batsmen were proactive and kept working the strike over. But, the leg-spinning pair of Amit Mishra and Imran Tahir were always going to cause problems. Smith holed out to the deep in the ninth over off Tahir. Ravindra Jadeja got a promotion.

CSK completed their ton in the 13th over, but du Plessis was dismissed soon as he hit one to long-off. Jadeja’s laboured stay also ended when Mishra had him stumped. Skipper MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo had the task of pushing the Chennai total.

DD have to be given credit for the way they bowled. Dominic bowled well at the death and Coulter-Nile continued to keep the good work. From overs 16 to 18, CSK could hardly force the issue and lost two wickets in that interval. Skipper Dhoni had also been tied down by the pressure applied by the DD bowlers. In the last over, Dhoni played a couple of superlative shots for sixes to help CSK push towards 150. That also spoiled Coulter-Nile’s figures a touch.

Having said that, there was something for the spinners in the pitch. Mishra and Tahir were getting some fair bounce and that could be an asset for Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja when they come out to defend this total.

Brief scores:

Chennai Super Kings 150 for 7 in 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 34, Faf du Plessis 32, MS Dhoni 30; Nathan Coulter-Nile 2 for 28) vs Delhi Daredevils.

Full Scorecard