MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings showed why they are the most successful team in the Indian Premier League, beating Delhi Daredevils by 1 run at the Chepauk in their tournament opener.
The former champions managed to defend the below-par total on what looked like a good batting wicket in Chennai. Delhi needed six runs to win off the final ball but Albie Morkel failed to clear the ropes and only managed a four.
Morkel held the innings together for Delhi, but he got no support from the other end as wickets kept falling on regular intervals. Yuvraj Singh and JP Duminy also misfired, making the job tough for the Daredevils.
Ashish Nehra led the way with the ball taking three crucial wickets, but saving boundaries on crucial junctures and keeping the composure also helped the Super Kings to go over the line by the finest of margins.
“Game of small margins. Proud of the boys. We will take a lot of learning out today,” Duminy said. “We just kept saying the gameplan is to keep taking wickets. They came hard at us, but we kept taking wickets. Feeling very good. Obviously we would have liked to win, but still a long time to go.”
Earlier, the Daredevils also bowled quite well and rattled the Super Kings’ top-order, with Nathan Coulter-Nile providing breakthroughs. Dwayne Smith and Faf du Plessis got starts but they fell as and when they tried to up the ante.
In the end, skipper Dhoni hit a couple of maximums to lift Chennai to 150, which proved just enough. Chennai, however, has a lot to improve in the forthcoming games.
“You have to hold on to your nerves,” Dhoni said. “I thought the last one was in the slot, and Bravo won’t be happy with the ball he bowled, but it is good to win close games. Nehra is good, at times he is prone to injuries, but he backs himself, which is good for a fast bowler.”
“It is good to see him the way he bowls. He has kept himself fit. He is one Indian pace who bowls pace effortlessly. It was important to win because this was our first match here in a long time. Not just for us, but for the crowd, because they appreciate opposition too. A crowd you want to do well in front of.”
