Super Kings beat Daredevils by 18 runs

Delhi Daredevils were knocked out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after they lost by 18 runs to defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday.

Chasing a target of 177, Daredevils could get just 158 runs in 20 overs. Irfan Pathan remained not out on 44 while Y.Venugopal Rao made 30 but couldn’t stop Chennai Super Kings from delivering a knock-out punch on Daredevils.

Daredevils batsmen paid the price of not converting their starts into big scores and also failed to get a decent partnership. Openers David Warner (21) and Naman Ojha (21) gave them a decent start, but they lost way midway as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Pathan’s unbeaten 34-ball innings was studded with two sixes and three fours. For the Super Kings, Ravichandran Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo took two wickets each.

Earlier, fifties by Subramaniam Badrinath and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni took Super Kings to a competitive 176 for four in 20 overs.

Dhoni’s unbeaten 31-ball 63 was studded with four sixes and five fours. Badrinath reached his half-century off 41 balls and Dhoni reached his fifty off 28 deliveries.

Badrinath hit a six and six fours in his 43-ball 55 before he was run out.

Murali Vijay hit a 33-ball 35 before Ajit Agarkar had him caught by Venugopal Rao at deep mid-wicket off a full toss. Vijay hit 2 sixes and 2 fours in his knock before falling to Agarkar.

Raina hit a six and a four in his 10-ball 14 before mistiming a short ball from Aaron that resulted in his dismissal.