IPL: Chennai Super Kings find Delhi Daredevils too hot to handle on a stormy evening

Delhi storm sweeps Chennai away, writes The Times Of India, adding that four run outs left Dhoni’s Team gasping for runs as Virender Sehwag and Kevin Pietersen made it an easy ride for the hosts at Ferozeshah Kotla Ground on Tuesday.

“Just like the unexpectedly fierce early evening squall which preceded it, Delhi’s opening game at home was all over in a flash, even by T20 standards. In a lopsided contest, the result was a foregone conclusion long before Delhi crossed the finish line with 40 balls to spare and eight wickets left,” writes TOI, adding that the rain couldn’t keep the crowds away but the night was a damp squib for MS Dhoni’s Chennai.

“Forced to bat first, they found Delhi’s brilliance in the field and the tough batting conditions early on simply too hot to handle. Four run outs, a 56-ball period without a boundary and regular fall of wickets ensured a paltry 110/8 on the board after 20 overs.”

Meanwhile, The Hindu writes that class is infectious and at least, Delhi Daredevils, inspired by the presence of Kevin Pietersen and Mahela Jayawardene in its ranks, showed that on Tuesday as it wiped out its all-loss record against Chennai Super Kings at home with an emphatic eight-wicket win at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

“The inspired performance from Daredevils was a tribute to its two star players, joining the side for its third match. Besides, the convincing win — which propelled the host to third spot with four points — was a big morale booster for the side which had finished with a wooden spoon last year. Daredevils' authoritative victory can be gauged from the fact that it restricted CSK to 110 for eight and then overhauled the target with 6.4 overs to spare. To bring an ideal finish to the script, Pietersen and Jayawardene were the batsmen who saw Daredevils home,” adds the national daily.

According to a report in The Tribune, Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag made the most of the conditions from the very first ball, to eventually restrict the visitors to 110 for 8 in 20 overs. Daredevils replied with 111 for 2 in 13.2 overs to home in comfortably after Naman Ojha and Virender Sehwag provided a blazing start to put on 32 runs off 3.4 overs.

“Ojha whipped Albie Morkel twice past the leg side, and once over the second slip, to hit three successive fours off the very first over, though he was a run-out victim to Du Plessis when he was shaping up well, to be out for 15 from 12 balls,” writes Tribune, adding that Sehwag’s presence at the crease kept the packed stands in a thrall, as he maintained the momentum after gliding Bollinger to the ropes off the first ball of the second over to open his account.

“He stayed put to make 33 off 21 balls with four boundaries and one six, before making his exit quickly, as is his wont, leaving the unfinished task of anchoring Delhi Daredevils to victory to their two star players —Kevin Piertersen and Mahela Jayawardene — who remained unbeaten on 43 and 20 respectively.”