Chennai Super Kings have advanced to their ninth Indian Premier League final with two balls to spare as their captain MS Dhoni produced some of his old magic to steer them to a four-wicket playoff victory over Delhi Capitals.
Chennai’s Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood also produced some fine bowling on Sunday to finish with 2-29 as he did more than anyone to limit Delhi while they compiled a more than useful 5-172.
But the three-time champions Chennai reached 6-173 on the back of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s impressive 70 and Robin Uthappa’s 63, before their inspirational 40-year-old skipper finished off the game with 13 needed off the final five balls.
With England’s Tom Curran bowling, Dhoni struck three boundaries, including one fortuitous blow off the inside edge and a match-winning slog to the legside boundary to seal the win.
Delhi can still make Friday’s final if they can beat the winner of Monday’s eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the second qualifier on Wednesday.
But Chennai are already there even though brisk fifties by opener Prithvi Shaw and captain Rishabh Pant had appeared to have powered Delhi into a powerful position at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Hazlewood did his best to derail them early on when he dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer cheaply, but Delhi hit back in rollicking fashion.
Faf du Plessis took a blinder near the boundary to cut shot Shaw’s knock of 60 but Pant added 83 with Shimron Hetmyer (37), and remained unbeaten on 51 off 35 balls.
Chennai lost du Plessis early in their reply but Gaikwad and Uthappa kept them firmly on course with their 110 partnership.
Iyer dragged Delhi back into the contest with his electric fielding, taking two brilliant catches in the deep and then firing in a throw which resulted in Ambati Rayudu’s run out.
But Dhoni fashioned a crucial 18 not out off six balls, with three fours and a six, to see his side home.
“Obviously it is very disappointing, and I can’t have enough words to describe how we are feeling,” a dejected Pant said.
“We are going to rectify our mistakes, learn from it and hopefully, we can move on and play the final.”
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