END OF OVER:20 | (wicket maiden) | DC: 146/9 (78 runs required, RR: 7.30)
- Chetan Sakariya0 (2b)
- Anrich Nortje0 (1b)
- Maheesh Theekshana4-1-23-2
- Matheesha Pathirana4-0-22-2
7:44pm Right. That will be that from us for this game. The second fixture of the day, though, is already underway, with KKR making an early inroad, dismissing Karan Sharma. Do hop over to that clutch clash between LSG and KKR. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Raghav, Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye, and take care!
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Player of the Match: (On his innings) Important game to win, it was a must-win game and it was important game for me as well. Thankful for this wonderful franchise for backing me throughout and hopefully it can continue for many more years. (Plan against spin) The wicket was holding a little bit. It was difficult to hit the fast bowlers. We thought we had a chance against the spinners because the straight boundaries are shorter. After 10-12 overs, with Dube, Mahi bhai and Jaddu to come in, we thought to go for it. He (Conway) had one or two areas where he wanted to improve and he has done really well. I think he has had a great experience and he is one of those guys who is always open to conversation. Love having him around. We talk a lot about what options to take, what not to take. That makes both of us less nervous and more confident.
MS Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings captain: (On CSK's playoff record) There is no recipe as such. You try to pick the best players and try to give them the best slot. You use them in the manner where they have most chances of succeeding and groom them in the areas where they are not as strong. If you are doing whatever is best for the team, it falls into line. The management has been great, including the support staff. They always keep telling us to not worry and to keep doing what we have been doing. But of course, the players are also important. (On the fast bowlers) When it comes to death bowling, confidence is a very important factor. If you look at Tushar, he has developed that death-overs bowling. How many times you can execute under pressure is the main thing. When you are confident, you execute more often than not. Behind the scenes, a lot of work goes on and I feel the bowlers have taken the responsibility. Pathirana is quite a natural when it comes to bowling at the death so that is one less headache. The way Tushar has come around has been remarkable. (Qualities he looks for in players) You need someone who is always team-first. Those are the kind of characters you look for. From a distance, it is difficult to judge that. We want them (players) to adjust to the environment. Even if they try to come 10%, we are willing to go to 50% and meet them in the middle.
7:17pm That turned into a very one-sided contest in the end. CSK, to their credit, set the ball rolling in the powerplay, picking up three wickets. Once that happened, it was always a long road back for Delhi. Warner tried to keep them afloat but with support not very forthcoming from other quarters, he was left waging a lone battle.
This win has now confirmed CSK's place in the playoffs, and they are now favourites to finish in the top two as well, with LSG having to win by 96 runs if they score 200, and by 97 runs if they score 160 or 180. Basically, LSG now have it all to do to leapfrog CSK in the points table and unless something dramatic happens, CSK might end up playing Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Titans at Chepauk.
David Warner, Delhi Capitals captain: (On areas they need to improve on and the positives) Our execution in the middle was good. We lost wickets in clumps, though. When we are on with the bat, like we were in Dharamsala, we were very good. It is about going back to the drawing board, regrouping and coming back stronger next year. You got to adapt, got to have your gameplan. Here you have to hit straight and the way CSK played today, that is how you have to play in these conditions. (On the pitch) It did not turn as much as I thought. Once I got in, I thought I could hit my boundaries. It was about not getting bogged down. If we had a couple of partnerships, we might have gotten closer. (On his performance) Trying to be as consistent as you can at the top of the order. You have to give yourself a chance. Our powerplay was not the best this year and we have to work hard on that.
Deepak Chahar: It was a very important match for us. The result we wanted, we got it and we are happy with it. (On the score) I think it was a 160 wicket. Getting 220 was a tremendous job. Our openers did really well. When a set batter is playing on that wicket, it is easier for him. 220 was more than enough on this wicket. (On his usage of the slower balls today) When you sweat a lot, it is difficult to bowl slower balls. Here, in the dryer heat, it was better. I have been practicing and if you do not bring something different every season, it gets very difficult for the bowler to perform. (On Deshpande and Pathirana) Tushar has improved a lot. He is getting confidence in his stock ball, if you do not have that, you go to Plan A and B. That is a mistake I made in my career early and I have been talking to him. His (Pathirana) bowling is difficult to face and quite happy with how we have performed.
We have another review ongoing for an lbw, this time, by Sakariya
Theekshana on a hat-trick. Sakariya to face the hat-trick ball. Slip in place