Sharjah: After Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson provided Chennai Super Kings with a fantastic start, Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja played gutsy knocks to help CSK score 179 for 4 in 20 overs here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Earlier, winning the toss, MS Dhoni opted to bat first against Delhi Capitals.
After a nightmarish start, Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson shared 87-run second-wicket partnership to lay the foundation of CSK's innings. du Plessis scored 58 off 47 balls while Watson scored 36.
The partnership was broken by Anrich Nortje when the fast bowler rattled Watson's stumps. In a span of three overs, du Plessis was sent back by Kagiso Rabada.
du Plessis, however, has done a great job by playing a superb knock. He hit six boundaries and two sixes while Watson struck six boundaries.
Earlier, Sam Curran was dismissed in the third ball of the first over by Tushar Deshpande.
With CSK looked set for a big total, Ambati Rayudu rode on the superb start provided by du Plessis and Watson to score some quick runs. However, when Rayudu was looking solid with the bat, MS Dhoni was caught behind off the bowling of Nortje.
But Dhoni's dismissal against the tide of the game didn't affect CSK's run flow. Rayudu played a slambang knock. The right-handed batsman got ample assistance from left-handed batsman Ravindra Jadeja.
Rayudu finished unbeaten 45 off 25 with the help of four sixes and a boundary. Jadeja, on the other hand, played an equally important innings (33 off 13 not out) to set a massive 180 runs target for Delhi Capitals. The duo shared 50 runs partnership for the sixth wicket.
It was rare off day for Delhi Capitals bowlers. Anrich Nortje was the most expensive bowler as he conceded 44 runs taking two wickets in four overs. The only bowler who did a batter job is Axar Patel who conceded 23 runs but went wicketless.
