Chennai Super Kings kept their playoff hopes alive with a ruthless performance that cut the table-leaders Delhi Daredevils to size. Super Kings shook Daredevils out of their comfort zone by letting them set a target, and they came a cropper on a lively pitch, plodding to 114. Virender Sehwag failed for the second time, and the absence of a strong top-order base exposed a weakness in the same line-up that carried them to the top of the table. Super Kings coasted home courtesy an opening stand of 75, which helped them power back to No. 4.
Daredevils never recovered when Ben Hilfenhaus sent Sehwag’s off stump for a tumble in the opening over. Sehwag was lost at sea with one that straightened and the rest of the top order were undone by arrogance. David Warner, who gave the Indian bowlers in Deccan Chargers a hiding in Hyderabad, was now confronted with the quality of Hilfenhaus, who had him swatting tamely to mid-off.
Naman Ojha, who partnered Warner in an explosive stand in Hyderabad, failed to match those heroics, gloving Hilfenhaus down the leg side. Daredevils were crawling at 27 for 4 after the Powerplay and the
