IPL 2020: DC defeats CSK by 44 runs,tops the point table

Dubai: A brilliant half-century by Prithvi Shaw (64 off 43) Shikhar Dhawan (35 off 27), Rishabh Pant not out (37 off 25) and excellent bowling spell by DC especially by Rabada 3/26, Nortje 2/21 helped the team beat  Chennai Super Kings by 44 runs in 13th edition of the IPL 2020, here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Shreyas Iyer also came handy scoring (26 off 22). DC posted a challenging 175/3 in 20 overs while CSK were bowled out for 131/7. After being invited to bat first by CSK captain MS Dhoni, Delhi Capitals were off to a slow start as they scored 36-0 in the powerplay.

However soon, both openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan decided to take on the spinners and played some attacking shots, taking DC to 88-0 at the end of the 10th over.  

Prithvi did the bulk of the scoring between the two and brought up his half-century.  Piyush Chawla dismissed Dhawan to break the 94-run opening stand. In his next over, Chawla also got rid of Shaw, who walked down the wicket to get stumped by the MS Dhoni for 64.

After losing Dhawan, Shaw fall in quick succession, captain Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant played sensibly and looked to keep the strike rotating with singles before dealing in boundaries.

With Iyer and Pant at the crease, DC were all set for a big total but CSK pulled it back in last few overs.

Sam Curran bowled a brilliant penultimate over for the Chennai Super Kings as he got the precious wicket of DC skipper Shreyas Iyer. MS Dhoni took a brilliant catch while diving to his right as DC lost their 3rd wicket.

Marcus Stoinis and Rishabh Pant scored 14 runs in Josh Hazlewood's last over to help Delhi Capitals post a competitive total of 175 in 20 overs.(UNI)