Finally hitting, Pant helps DC defeat CSK with ease

After David Warner scored a well-constructed fifty, comeback man Rishabh Pant produced a much-needed fifty to set up the Delhi Capitals’ comfortable 20-run victory against Chennai Super Kings, for whom MS Dhoni’s legendary performance was insufficient to cross the finish line in their IPL encounter here today.

DC performed well on the evening despite CSK’s best efforts to reach the challenging 192-run total with Ajinkya Rahane (45), Dhoni (37 not out), and Daryl Mitchell (34). With his two consecutive wickets in the powerplay, left-arm bowler Khaleel Ahmed (2/21) established the tone, and pacer Mukesh Kumar (3/21) saw it through.

Before Pant’s 32-ball 51 propelled DC to 191/5, Warner and Prithvi Shaw (43) overcame a sluggish start to establish a 93-run opening partnership in the first session. Pant scored his first fifty in fifteen months with four boundaries and three maximums.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Titans defeated the high-flying Sunrisers Hyderabad with a commanding seven-wicket victory, putting on an all-around display. Veteran seamer Mohit Sharma, who amassed amazing figures of 3/25 in the last over, was at his best in deception. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, the Afghan spin twins, dominated the middle overs as GT held the raiding SRH to 162/8.

Despite having cramps, South African batsman David Miller showed his flair with a 44 not out from 27 balls to lead the chase.

Brief scores: SRH: 162/8 (Abhishek 29, Samad 29, Mohit 3/25) versus GT: 168/3 in 19.1 overs (Sudharsan 45, Miller 44*); DC: 191/5 (Warner 52, Pant 51, Shaw 43, Pathirana 3/31) vs CSK: 171/6 (Rahane 45, Dhoni 37*; Mukesh 3/21, Khaleel 2/21).