| 0.0 : Time for the run chase! Spirited Delhi boys charge out to the field. Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis to open for Chennai, as usual. 148 needed off 120 legal balls. This is that kind of a target which often turns out to be ticklish. Trent Boult has the new ball in his hand as he gets ready to bowl the first over. A slip in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : T Boult to du Plessis, Boult is right on the money first ball. Serves it full and on middle, du Plessis strides forward with a full ball and defends it back. |
| 0.2 : T Boult to du Plessis, Huge shout for an lbw! Not given. Going down, maybe. Boult comes up with a good length delivery around leg, moving back in a bit. Du Plessis fails to work it around and is hit on the pads. They appeal but to no avail and the replays show that it pitched outside leg as well. No thought given to the usage of the DRS. |
| 0.3 : T Boult to du Plessis, RUN OUT, MISSED! Run out again, missed again! Run out one more time, misses again! What is happening? Outside off, du Plessis pushes this towards point and sets off for a single. Like an obedient friend, Watto responds. Then, suddenly, Faf changes his mind. Now, Watson has to do a U-Turn. There comes the run out chance as Faf changes his mind again. Now, we have a running race between the two for the non-striker's end. Axar Patel comes in from point and has a shy at t |
| 0.4 : T Boult to S Watson, Full on middle, pushed straight to mid on. |
| 0.5 : T Boult to S Watson, A touch short in length and around off, Watson tries to run it down but finds short third man. |
| 0.6 : T Boult to S Watson, Oohhh... excellent delivery. Boult serves it on a length and in the line of the stumps. Watson tries working it on the leg side but fails to connect properly. It probably takes the inside edge and then hits him on the pads. The bowler turns to appeal but nothing doing as far as the umpire is concerned. Eventful first over by the Kiwi. |
| Ishant Sharma to operate from the other end with a slip in place. |
| 1.1 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Back of a length delivery outside off, du Plessis punches it square of the wicket on the off side where the fielder dives across to his left from cover-point to make the stop. |
| 1.2 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Plenty of width on offer outside off, it's short and wide and du Plessis flat-bats it down the ground. Iyer at mid off goes down on one knee and collects the ball on one bounce. |
| 1.3 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Du Plessis has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 1.4 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Slower one this time, on a length and around off, du Plessis quietly plays it down with soft hands towards square leg and scampers across to the other end. Good calling and response from Watson. |
| 1.5 : I Sharma to S Watson, Slower one again, on a length on off and angling in, Watson taps it down towards cover-point and steals a run. |
| 1.6 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Another quick run pinched. The calling has improved a lot after that comical incident in the first over. Faf gets behind the line of the delivery and bunts it down to mid off. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. 3 runs from the over, a good one from Sharma. |
| 2.1 : T Boult to du Plessis, Dealing in quick singles are Chennai. Shortish delivery on off, du Plessis hops back to make room and forces it towards mid off for a brisk run. Once again the fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end. |
| 2.2 : T Boult to S Watson, Fractionally short in length on off, angling away, Watson sits on the back foot and opens his bat to guide it through point for one. |
| 2.3 : T Boult to du Plessis, FOUR! Powerful shot from Faf! Boult is on the shorter side again, on middle, du Plessis gets on top of the bounce and pulls it disdainfully to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 2.4 : T Boult to du Plessis, Stays back footed to a good length ball and punches it towards mid off. The fielder is at the edge of the ring and an easy single is taken. |
| 2.5 : T Boult to S Watson, Nicely played. Shortish and around off, leaving the right-hander, Watson camps back and plays it down late to third man for a run. |
| 2.6 : T Boult to du Plessis, The line from Boult is straight on this occasion, du Plessis clips it off his pads to deep mid-wicket and takes the 9th run from this over, a good one for Chennai. |
| 3.1 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Jumps out of the crease to a length ball and hits it off the toe end of his bat to mid off. |
| 3.2 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Ishant foxes the South African with a slower one. It's on a length around off, Faf dances down the track and tries to swing his bat at it. But that happens way too early and the ball arrives late. Pant fumbles behind the stumps but no run conceded. |
| Mid-wicket drops back. |
| 3.3 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Slower length ball on off, du Plessis turns his wrists across the line and helps it in front of square leg for one. |
| 3.4 : I Sharma to S Watson, Ishant continues to serve slower ones, on a length and outside off, Watson sticks back to play late at it but finds backward point. |
| 3.5 : I Sharma to S Watson, Angles in a length ball on middle and leg, Watson plays it down with soft hands in front of square leg and jogs across to the other end. |
| 3.6 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Shortish and on off, Faf walks down the track for a big shot but it takes inner half of his bat and rolls towards mid on. Another 3-run over from Ishant, lovely bowling from the tall Delhi man. 132 needed off 96 balls. |
| Axar Patel is into the attack now. |
| 4.1 : A Patel to du Plessis, The spinner begins with a short delivery outside off, du Plessis makes room to punch it through the line but it takes the outside edge and goes on one bounce to backward point. |
| 4.2 : A Patel to du Plessis, FOUR! Finds the gap this time! Axar tries his luck again with a shorter one outside off, du Plessis rocks back and slaps it through the gap between point and cover-point for a boundary. |
| 4.3 : A Patel to du Plessis, SIX! Goodness me, what a shot! We saw Rutherford playing a similar shot against Harbhajan earlier. A flatter delivery, in the line of the stumps, du Plessis moves back inside the crease and rockets it powerfully over extra cover. It keeps on going, going and flies over the fence. Du Plessis made that shot look so easy. |
| 4.4 : A Patel to du Plessis, Tries working it across the line but closes the face of his bat early. It goes off the leading edge to mid off and the batsmen cross. |
| 4.5 : A Patel to S Watson, Flatter and shorter on off, Watson goes back to cut but gets an inside edge. |
| 4.6 : A Patel to S Watson, Short again, cut through the line but straight to point. 11 from the over! |
| 5.1 : I Sharma to du Plessis, FOUR! Faf is motoring now! Receives a short delivery around leg and he eases his pull shot behind square leg. Fine timing and placement, and the fielder in the deep has no chance of cutting it off. |
| 5.2 : I Sharma to du Plessis, FOUR! Boundaries are coming thick and fast. Suddenly, Chennai are on the charge, mainly due to Faf du Plessis. Width on offer outside off, the length is short and Faf slaps it through the line. It's aerial but wide of the diving short third man fielder for a boundary. |
| 5.3 : I Sharma to du Plessis, FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries. It appears Ishant got one over too many in this appeal. Serves it short and on middle, du Plessis sits back inside the crease and muscles his pull shot over mid-wicket. 23 runs off the last 9 balls. |
| 5.4 : I Sharma to du Plessis, A single this time as du Plessis works a shortish length ball in the gap on the leg side. |
| 5.5 : I Sharma to S Watson, Full in length on middle and leg, Watson closes the face of his bat and clips it in front of square leg for one. |
| 5.6 : I Sharma to du Plessis, Du Plessis takes a good length ball from around off and eases it through mid-wicket for a run. 15 from the over, 26 in the last two and Chennai have managed to score 42/0 in the Powerplay, one more than Delhi and two wickets less. |
| Strategic break. Perfect start for Chennai in this run chase. They began nervously but Faf du Plessis has decided to press on the accelerator. He is going great guns and Delhi are under pressure at the moment. They need wickets and that too in a heap to stay in the hunt. In comes their ace spinner, Amit Mishra into the attack. |
| 6.1 : A Mishra to du Plessis, Flighted and full ball on leg, played on the leg side off the front foot. |
| 6.2 : A Mishra to du Plessis, Du Plessis has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 6.3 : A Mishra to du Plessis, Full and flighted outside off, a googly, du Plessis drives it off his front foot to covers. |
| 6.4 : A Mishra to du Plessis, Jumps out of the crease to a full ball, allows the ball to spin away just a bit and then pushes it down to long off for one. |
| 6.5 : A Mishra to S Watson, Tossed up ball outside off, Watson presses forward and drives it back past the bowler to long off for one run again. |
| 6.6 : A Mishra to du Plessis, FOUR! This one races away to the fence in a flash! Loopy and full on off, it's actually too full and Faf does well to sweep it firmly through square leg for a boundary. 100 needed off 78 balls. |
| Keemo Paul to bowl now. |
| 7.1 : K Paul to S Watson, Full and on middle, angling in, Watson leans forward and across before playing it on the leg side. Finds mid-wicket. |
| 7.2 : K Paul to S Watson, Five wides! Paul loses his line completely. Serves a full ball way down the leg side, Watson leaves it alone and Pant stands no chance of stopping it even with a dive. Bonus runs for Chennai. 50 comes up! |
| K Paul to S Watson, Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 7.3 : K Paul to du Plessis, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 7.4 : K Paul to S Watson, FOUR! First boundary from the Aussie's bat. Keemo once again loses his radar. Serves a juicy full toss on the pads and Watson has no qualms in deflecting it down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 7.5 : K Paul to S Watson, That's more like it. This one is on and around off, some movement too, Watson keeps it out safely on the off side, the ball rolls in the gap and they take a single. |
| Has Colin Munro saved a boundary here? The umpires are not sure and have taken it upstairs... Replays seem to show that Munro's elbow has touched the ropes while pulling the ball back into play. |
| 7.6 : K Paul to du Plessis, FOUR! Munro's elbow indeed was in contact with the ropes. A good effort but in vain. Back of a length delivery shaping back into the batsman and staying low. Du Plessis stays back to chop it down but it kisses the bottom edge and runs behind. Pant tries to stop it with a dive to his right but ends up parrying it past short third man. Munro gives the chase, tries to pull it back with a slide but as mentioned earlier, his elbow was touching the ropes. 16 from the over. |
| 8.1 : A Mishra to S Watson, FOUR! Paddled away! Full and angling down the leg side, Shane kneels down and thumps his sweep shot fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| Wickets in hand in pressure chases is so vital. A look at the win rates for chasing sides with number of wickets lost - 0 - 81 percent (13/16), 1 - 71 percent (15/21), 2 - 45 percent (5/11), 3-plus - 22 percent (2/9). |
| 8.2 : A Mishra to S Watson, TOP EDGE, SAFE! Does not seem to be Delhi's night. Full and around off, Watson gets down to play the slog sweep but gets a massive top edge. Prithvi Shaw runs back from short mid-wicket, Colin Munro comes running in from long on and dives forward but does not quite get there! A run taken. |
| 8.3 : A Mishra to du Plessis, That is how a sweep is played. Faf swats it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 8.4 : A Mishra to S Watson, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 8.5 : A Mishra to S Watson, Too full in length and outside off, it's driven aerially through extra cover and Boult does well in the deep to stop it after coming from long off. |
| 8.6 : A Mishra to du Plessis, Flatter and full on middle, worked to deep mid-wicket for a run. Du Plessis wanted the second run but Watson wasn't interested. 8 from this over, Chennai running away with this one. |
| Axar Patel is back on. |
| 9.1 : A Patel to du Plessis, Du Plessis has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 9.2 : A Patel to du Plessis, Flatter and on off, defended off the back foot to point. |
| 9.3 : A Patel to du Plessis, 12th League fifty for Faf du Plessis and it has come in a big game! Quicker delivery on middle, Faf knocks it down to long on for a run. His knock has made sure that Chennai are ahead in this match. |
| 9.4 : A Patel to S Watson, The line is too straight and Watson paddles it fine down the leg side for a couple. |
| 9.5 : A Patel to S Watson, SIX! This one has disappeared! Watto power! Fuller delivery, fired on leg, Watson kneels and smokes it behind square leg for a maximum. Goes deep into the crowd, Chennai are cruising, 67 needed off 61 balls. |
| 9.6 : A Patel to S Watson, Goes on the back foot and punches a shortish ball to point. 65 runs in the last 6 over for Chennai, best possible start when you are chasing a tricky target of 148. |
| Trent Boult is back on. |
| 10.1 : T Boult to du Plessis, Back of a length delivery on off, du Plessis punches it off his back foot to covers. |
| 10.2 : T Boult to du Plessis, OUT! Boult returns and gets rid of du Plessis. But the South African has already done the damage with his outstanding knock. A short of a length delivery on middle, Faf shapes up for the pull shot and connects well also. But his shot lacks the desired elevation and Keemo Paul at deep mid-wicket takes a good low catch by going down across to his right. 67 needed off 58 balls and Delhi can only make a comeback by picking a few more wickets in quick time now. |
| Suresh Raina is the new batsman. |
| 10.3 : T Boult to S Raina, Off the mark straightaway. Full in length and angling down the leg side, Raina flicks it behind square leg for a run. Raina and Boult share a smile. |
| 10.4 : T Boult to S Watson, Shortish and on off, Watson taps it down to short third man. |
| 10.5 : T Boult to S Watson, A yorker on middle at 141.5 kph, Watson does well to dig it out towards mid-wicket. |
| 10.6 : T Boult to S Watson, Lands it on a length on the middle stump line, Watson remains on the back foot and just opens the face of his bat at the last moment to push it towards deep backward point. A single to close the over, a wicket and 2 runs off it. |
| Keemo Paul is back on. |
| 11.1 : K Paul to S Watson, SIX! Watson has sent one more packing into the stands! A short delivery on middle and leg, sitting up nicely for the batsman, Watson rides the bounce and dismisses it over backward square leg. 59 needed off 53 balls. |
| 11.2 : K Paul to S Watson, FOUR! Paul is getting too predictable with his slower ones. The length is short, Watson picks it very early, waits on the back foot like a hawk and then boom... Thwacked over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| Fine leg comes up. Mid-wicket drops back. |
| 11.3 : K Paul to S Watson, Driven through mid on by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 11.4 : K Paul to S Raina, A controlled pull shot by Raina. He stands back inside the crease to a short ball outside off and turns it down to long on for one. Easy going, 53 needed more off 50 balls. |
| 11.5 : K Paul to S Watson, SIX! Watson has murdered this delivery. 100 comes up for Chennai and the Aussie is on fire. A slow off spinner, in the slot for the batsman, Watson fetches it from outside off and plunders it over wide long on for a maximum. |
| 11.6 : K Paul to S Watson, Wide! Keemo under pressure. Slips a length ball down the leg side, Watson tries flicking but misses. |
| K Paul to S Watson, SIX! Fifty up for Watson and also, he is the first man in 2019 to score 1000 T20 runs. What a player! What a big match player to be more apt! A slower delivery, landing full and outside off at 100 kph, Watson goes hard at it, doesn't middle his shot and it flies more from the top half of his blade. The long off fielder was interested for a while but he can only watch it sail over his head. 25 from the over, Watson has nailed Paul here. |
| Mishy is back. |
| 12.1 : A Mishra to S Raina, Floated and full outside off, Raina gets forward and drives it through mid off for a run. |
| 12.2 : A Mishra to S Watson, OUT! Watson is dismissed! But just like his opening partner, he has also done his job. The required run rate is just over 5 and Chennai only have to bat sensibly from here. Nothing fancy needed. A loopy delivery, landing full on middle, Watson tries to play the lofted shot over mid off by stepping down the track but it spins away a bit to take the outside half of his blade. It loops in the air towards wide long off where Boult jumps a bit to complete the catch over hi |
| Ambati Rayudu arrives in the middle. |
| 12.3 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, Almost a return catch. A googly going down the leg side, Rayudu tries to flick but it takes the leading edge. The ball balloons in the air but falls safely at covers. |
| 12.4 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, Gets on the back foot and punches it to covers. |
| 12.5 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. One run added to the total. |
| 12.6 : A Mishra to S Raina, Knocks it calmly down to long off for a single. |
| 13.1 : A Patel to S Raina, Full and around middle, knocked down to long on for a single. |
| 13.2 : A Patel to A Rayudu, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run. |
| 13.3 : A Patel to S Raina, Full and around off, pushed through mid on for one. |
| 13.4 : A Patel to A Rayudu, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 13.5 : A Patel to A Rayudu, Full and outside off, eased through the covers for a run. |
| 13.6 : A Patel to S Raina, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 14.1 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.2 : A Mishra to S Raina, Short and outside off, punched away for a run. |
| 14.3 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, Outside off, pushed straight to point. |
| 14.4 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, Full and outside off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 14.5 : A Mishra to A Rayudu, Full and outside off, swept to mid-wicket for one more. |
| 14.6 : A Mishra to S Raina, Full on middle, pushed down to long on for another single. |
| 15.1 : A Patel to S Raina, Full and outside off, Raina looks to play the slog but misses. |
| 15.2 : A Patel to S Raina, Comes down the track and has a wild heave but is gone for all money. Luckily for him, the ball takes the inside edge and goes past the leg stump towards fine leg. Two runs taken. |
| 15.3 : A Patel to S Raina, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 15.4 : A Patel to A Rayudu, FOUR! Inside out! Full and outside off, Rayudu comes down the track and lofts it over cover for a boundary! |
| 15.5 : A Patel to A Rayudu, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 15.6 : A Patel to S Raina, OUT! Dragged it on! Outside off, Raina goes back to punch but is too close to the ball. The ball comes in, takes the inside edge and hits the stumps. |
| Strategic break. 21 needed off 24 balls. Mere formality left looking at the runs needed but funny things have happened in cricket. Having said that, MS Dhoni has walked in and more often than not, you will bank on him to finish the job. Trent Boult to bowl after the break... |
| 16.1 : T Boult to A Rayudu, Back of a length delivery outside off, angling away, Rayudu hangs on the back foot and punches it to sweeper cover. They cross for just a single but the crowd is going mad. Reason - MS Dhoni is on strike now. |
| 16.2 : T Boult to MS Dhoni, On a full length and wide outside off, Dhoni reaches out for it but fails to middle his shot. It takes the bottom edge and rolls near the surface. |
| 16.3 : T Boult to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Ziva likes that shot and she is seen clapping for Daddy Dhoni. Short in length and sliding down the leg side, Dhoni turns inside the crease and helps it on its way to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 16.4 : T Boult to MS Dhoni, Straighter in line, it's flicked with fine timing through square leg for a couple of runs. |
| 16.5 : T Boult to MS Dhoni, Digs in a short ball on middle, Dhoni leans back to get on top of the bounce and pulls it through square leg for one. |
| 16.6 : T Boult to A Rayudu, Bowls it full and on middle, Rayudu gets behind the line and blocks it back. 8 from the over, 13 needed more off 3 overs. |
| Keemo Paul is back on. 41 in 2 overs from him so far... |
| 17.1 : K Paul to MS Dhoni, Angling down the leg side, Dhoni tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to square leg and they cross for a leg bye. |
| 17.2 : K Paul to A Rayudu, FOUR! Eased away! Not for the first time Paul has erred in his line this evening. Goes down the leg side and it's easily flicked down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 17.3 : K Paul to A Rayudu, The batsman picked that bouncer early and let it through to the keeper. |
| 17.4 : K Paul to A Rayudu, Slower short ball on off, at 109.4 kph, Rayudu is early into his pull shot and takes a blow on his body. |
| 17.5 : K Paul to A Rayudu, FOUR! Another four needed for a win! Short in length and wide outside off, Rayudu latches onto it and whacks it through point for a crackling boundary. |
| 17.6 : K Paul to A Rayudu, Tries to tap and run by pushing it towards point but Dhoni sends Rayudu back. 9 from the over, another four needed. |
| Ishant Sharma to bowl what could be the last over for Qualifier 2. |
| 18.1 : I Sharma to MS Dhoni, Beaten! Ishant lands it on a good length outside off, going straight on after landing, Dhoni pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 18.2 : I Sharma to MS Dhoni, Almost a boundary! Dhoni jumps out of the crease to take it on the full and pumps it over the bowler's head. Munro rushes across to his left from long on to make the stop. Two runs saved. |
| 18.3 : I Sharma to MS Dhoni, A back foot punch from MSD but he finds the extra cover fielder inside the ring. |
| 18.4 : I Sharma to MS Dhoni, OUT! What an anti-climax! The crowd is stunned. Dhoni holes out with just two more needed. Ishant gets a wicket by bowling it short. Dhoni pulls it across the line in front of square leg and Paul catches it near the fence. Sharma raises his hands in celebration. |
| Dwayne Bravo is the new batsman. |
| 18.5 : I Sharma to A Rayudu, Shortish and on off, Rayudu tucks it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 18.6 : I Sharma to D Bravo, Four leg byes! Chennai win by 6 wickets and march into their 8th League final in 10 years! Also, this is their 100th win! A touch short in length and drifting down the leg side, Bravo shuffles across the stumps to flick it across the line but misses. It kisses his thigh pad and screams past the diving keeper for a boundary at fine leg. |
| A thumping win for Chennai and they have set a date with their arch rivals for the ultimate showdown. Qualifier 2 brought plenty of pressure along with it but given the experience of Chennai, they absorbed everything beautifully and put up a clinical performance. Their bowling was right on the money and then their openers almost put the chase to bed by raising an 81-run stand. Watson and du Plessis scored their respective fifties and showed that there is no substitute for experience. |
| Dreams shattered for Delhi. They played so well in this edition and reached this stage but failed to cross the second-last hurdle. Their batting didn't come good in this crunch game and only managed a paltry total on the board. In defense, their bowlers initiated well in the first four overs but once Faf du Plessis pressed on the accelerator, their bowlers ran helter-skelter. Keemo Paul was the bowler who was targeted the most. The rest put in a decent effort but that wasn't enough on the night. |
| Delhi skipper, Shreyas Iyer, admits that they did not have much runs on the board. Smiles by saying that it was a great season for Delhi. Says that they expected a slower wicket, given that the soil used on the Delhi and Visakhapatnam pitches is the same but then blames the batsmen for not taking the responsibility of staying in the middle. However, does not want to put the blame on the pitches since as a professional, one cannot complain. On his captaincy stint, Shreyas says that he has learnt |
| Shane Watson is also up for a chat. He says that it was one of those nights and mentions that the faith Chennai show in him is unbelievable. Admits that he took some time to find the rhythm but then everything fell in place. Praises Faf du Plessis for his batting and feels it worked out really well as Faf's knock helped him to settle down. On the age of his side, Watson replies there are huge positives about age and reckons that experienced players know more of what to do in different situations |
| Chennai skipper, MS Dhoni is all smiles and says that it's an usual route (reaching the final via Qualifier 2) and last year was an exception. Feels it's always tacky initially in the matches starting early and the spinners get good support. Adds that they kept picking wickets at the right time and that didn't allow Delhi to get going. Mentions that it was important to get the openers out and feels the timing of the wickets was really crucial. On the use of his spinners, MS replies that credit g |
| Man of the Match, Faf du Plessis says that they didn't have the best of runs in the last 5-6 games and is happy that they played their best in the bigger game. Admits that they started a bit scratchily and feels their strength is to maximize the partnership even if they go 3-4 overs without runs as they have good finishers down the order. Smiles and says that Watson thanked him for his support and taking the pressure off him earlier. Terms it great to win to get into the final. On the miscommuni |
| Right then, it's going to be El Clasico IV this season. Mark the date on your calendar for the grand finale - it's 12th May, Sunday. The action will begin here at 1930 local (1400 GMT). Don't forget to join us. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers! |
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