Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw energy DC to massive win over CSK

Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw pummelled Chennai Super Kings into submission with their explosive batting as Delhi Capitals romped to a seven-wicket victory of their Indian Premier League opener right here on Saturday.
Dhawan smashed 85 off 54 balls and Shaw amassed 72 in simply 38 deliveries as DC chased down a goal of 189 comfortably with 1.2 overs to spare.
New skipper Rishabh Pant hit the profitable runs.
With Shaw and Dhawan in rollicking kind, Delhi Capitals began on a rousing notice and have been sitting fairly at 65 for no loss on the finish of the six Powerplay overs.
The two openers went for his or her massive photographs with impunity, and on all sides of the Wankhede Stadium, as Delhi Capitals raced previous 100 in fast time.
Needing 90 runs within the final 10 overs and with all wickets in hand, DC might afford to dictate phrases and put stress on CSK. That Shardul Thakur and Sam Curran have been despatched for a leather-based hunt put CSK utterly out of contest.
For Shaw, the innings was an extension of his Vijay Hazare Trophy kind and the slight tweak in his approach and a straight backlift is working wonders for Shaw.
“I worked on the back-and-across [movement], I focused with Pravin sir as well. I think it’s working quite well,” Shaw stated.
The fours and sixes continued to rain as DC inched nearer to the goal with consummate ease
While the CSK bowling assault had no reply to the strokes performed by the DC openers, what added to their distress have been two dropped catches of Shaw on 38 and 47, with Moeen Ali being the unlucky bowler on each events.
Making full use of the reprieves, Shaw raced to half century in simply 27 balls whereas his senior accomplice Dhawan go to the landmark in 35 deliveries.
Shaw hit 9 fours and three sixes, whereas Dhawan struck 10 boundaries and two maximums earlier than getting out to overlook out on 100.
Earlier, Suresh Raina introduced his IPL comeback with a blazing 36-ball 54 and powered his staff to a strong 188 for seven.
Sam Curran smashed 34 off solely 15 balls to prop up the CSK innings in the direction of the tip. Curran hit 4 fours and two sixes.
The final 5 overs yielded 52 runs for CSK, due to Curran’s power-packed innings.
Asked to bat first by Rishabh Pant, Ruturaj Gaikwad bought CSK off the mark with a delightful drive by way of the off aspect between level and canopy, two deliveries after being overwhelmed all finally ends up by a Chris Woakes outswinger.
Last season’s runners-up DC didn’t have to attend lengthy for his or her first breakthrough as Avesh Khan (2/23 in 4 overs) had Faf du PLessis trapped in entrance of the wicket within the second over.
In the primary ball of the third over, Woakes had Gaikwad caught within the slip cordon as CSK slipped to seven for 2.
The English pacer drew Gaikwad right into a push with a ball that moved a barely on pitching.
In got here Raina — he had missed the final IPL owing to non-public causes — and within the firm of Moeen Ali, the seasoned campaigner revived CSK’s innings and regarded to place up a difficult complete in opposition to a robust DC batting line-up on the Wankhede Stadium.
During his 24-ball 36, Moeen struck 4 boundaries and two sixes, enjoying a nice serving to hand to Raina.
Experienced off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reduce quick Moeen’s innings when the all-rounder bought himself into an uncomfortable place whereas going for a reverse sweep, the following top-edge ending in catch by Shikhar Dhawan, who ran backwards from quick third man to carry on to the ball.
Ambati Rayudu got here in and straightaway bought into the act, hitting a few sixes and a 4 to race away to 23 off 16 balls earlier than Tom Curran ended his keep within the center.
Meanwhile Raina went about his activity in a fashion that didn’t give the impression that he was coming again to top-flight after an extended hiatus.
Raina bought himself going with a 4 off Woakes after which labored Ashwin for 2 successive boundaries, not afraid to bounce down the wicket in opposition to the wily spinner’s flight.
Using his toes nicely, the veteran southpaw hoicked leg-spinner Amit Mishra for 2 and likewise bought a most in opposition to Ashwin.
It was no completely different with Marcus Stoinis as Raina pulled the Australian medium pacer for an additional six earlier than being run-out following a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja (26)