IPL: CSK face resurgent DC in push for play-offs spot

Chennai Super Kings enter the final lap of the ongoing Indian Premier League’s preliminary phase, looking to beat back the challenge of a resurgent Delhi Capitals here on Wednesday and get closer to a play-offs berth. CSK returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over Mumbai Indians — a bogey team at their fortress Chepauk — and would be hoping to pick up two more points against the Capitals, who have struggled in the tournament for the most part. The Super Kings trumped MI in a low-scoring game last Saturday with the bowlers, Matheesha Pathirana in particular, doing a good job to restrict the opposition. The chase was wrapped up without much ado, with contributions from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway and Shivam Dube. While the top-order batters (Conway 457 runs, Gaikwad 292 runs and Ajinkya Rahane (245 runs) have been doing a great job, the middle-order hasn’t fired as much as the think-tank would have hoped for. The experienced Ambati Rayudu (95 runs in 11 games) and Ravindra Jadeja (92 in 11 games) haven’t got going, making for a floundering middle-order. Skipper M S Dhoni has managed the cameos expected of him whenever he has got in. The team will be hoping that the middle-order is not put to test in a crunch game. Dhoni and the CSK fans will be praying for the likes of Rayudu, Moeen Ali and Jadeja to rise to the occasion when it matters the most. The big-hitting Shivam Dube has so far collected 290 runs (from 9 innings) and will be eyeing bigger contributions in key games. Tushar Deshpande with 19 wickets so far has done a fine job but his economy rate of 10.33 and giving away runs at crucial junctures has hurt CSK at times. The captain would like him to be more thrifty with the ball. Jadeja, as always, has struck crucial blows while slinger Pathirana will be keen to continue the good run, like against MI. Pathirana will be one bowler the Capitals, including the aggressive Phil Salt, who shone in the team’s last game, would be wary of.