IPL 2021: ‘Very good effort to make a game out of it’, says MS Dhoni after CSK’s last over loss to DC

DC chased down CSK's 136/5 with three wickets in hand and two balls to spare.

The match between DC and CSK went down the wire | BCCI/IPLChennai Super Kings (CSK) might have suffered a three-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Capitals (DC), but skipper MS Dhoni was pleased that his team managed to take the game till the last over.

Asked to bat first, CSK posted a below-par 136/5 in their allotted 20 overs. However, the match still went down the wire with both teams fighting hard for the win in the last over.

DC eventually chased down the target with two balls to spare and reclaimed the top spot on the IPL 2021 points table.

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"It was a very good effort to make a game out of it. Was important not to give too many in the first six. Was one expensive over in the first six, but when quality players are batting it can happen," said Dhoni during the post-match presentation.

The Capitals were cruising in the chase when Shikhar Dhawan (39) was at the crease. But once he got out, the DC batting line-up collapsed and they found themselves reeling at 99/6.

Amid the pressure situation, Shimron Hetmyer, batting at No. 7, rose to the occasion. The southpaw added a crucial 36-run stand for the seventh wicket with Akshar and stayed unbeaten on 28 off 18 balls to take Delhi over the line.

"It's a two-paced wicket. It's not like it slowed down drastically. Can't just play your shots. That's what the Delhi batters also faced. I felt the taller bowlers were getting movement," Dhoni added.

Ambati Rayudu was the lone warrior with the bat for Chennai, scoring 55 not out off 43 balls. Dhoni said CSK were looking to get close to 150 and that would have been a good score to defend.

"We were looking to get closer to 150. After we lost a few wickets, around the 15-16th over mark the platform was nice. We failed to accelerate. I thought it was a tough pitch. Anything close to 150 would've been a good score," he concluded.

(With ANI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 05 Oct, 2021

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