Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Match 18 Match Summary

Sunday showdown awaits - That wraps up Super Saturday, with Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings picking up crucial wins at their respective home grounds. Now, the action shifts to a double-header Sunday, 12th April, starting with Gujarat Titans taking on Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). It will be followed by a heavyweight clash as Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, beginning at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As always, you can join us early for the build-up to both matches. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Sanju Samson wins the award for his outstanding knock of 115* off 56. Sanju says that the century means a great deal to him personally. He speaks about the responsibility he felt after CSK put their trust in him through the trade, saying he was driven by a desire to put the team on track and repay that faith. He adds that while CSK is a new franchise for him, it has not felt that way at any point. Shares that the dressing room has been welcoming from the start, and he felt at home quickly. He is touched on the team's collective mindset as well, noting that even after three losses, the pre-match meeting lasted briefly. On the journey to the hundred, Samson says failing repeatedly taught him how to come back. Adds that in those moments, the mind works through whether to go harder or recalibrate the game plan entirely. Stresses on returning to basics, getting into a different mental zone, focusing on timing the ball and picking it up cleanly from the bowler's hand. He is quite delighted that everything clicked into place in this game. Samson is also full of praise for Ayush Mhatre, saying their partnership was crucial and that the youngster never looked like someone fresh out of the Under-19 setup. He describes him (Ayush) as calculative and composed beyond his years, which is a reflection of his real character. On his century celebration, Samson reveals that it was dedicated to Stephen Fleming. He admits how demanding it must be to lead a franchise for all these years and says he simply wanted to give something back to the man who has carried that responsibility.

The victorious skipper of Chennai Super Kings - Ruturaj Gaikwad says that he is really happy with the win. Adds that they have been batting well in the last few games, and it was good to score 212 when the surface was playing a bit slow. He praises Sanju's knock and also gives credit to Ayush Mhatre for the way he batted as well. Gaikwad mentions that they do not have the X-factor in the bowling, but they always discuss how to give that something extra in the field, save a few runs. Says that even in the last game, they got close, but one-two big overs cost them. He ends by acknowledging the Chennai fans, saying they always support them no matter what. He has received so many messages, and this is what makes this team special, with people just enjoying the game of cricket.

Presentation Time...

Time to hear from the man of the moment - Jamie Overton (4/18 in 4 overs) says he is very happy with the win and delighted to deliver it in front of the home crowd at Chepauk, describing it as a great place to play. On his bowling, Overton reflects that things had been feeling good since the Big Bash and that he had been hitting good pace consistently. He, though, admits that a couple of games had not gone his way, pointing specifically to the over against Tim David in the game against RCB. Accepts that these things happen in T20 cricket. He says that he was simply focused on bending his back, hitting his lengths, and taking wickets. On the key to bowling on that surface, Overton explains that the plan was to target the stumps throughout. He feels the pitch was a touch tacky, with a few balls jumping up, and says he tried to bring the batters forward and cut down on cross-batted strokes. On the injury scare, Overton is quite relaxed, confirming it was nothing more than a cramp. He admits that it was taking some time for him to get used to the heat, but is confident he will be fine.

The captain of Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel feels that they made a promising start in the chase, but were hurt by a cluster of wickets in the middle phase. He admits that the key differentiator between the two sides was the fielding. Says they let themselves down in that department. Credits the DC for the way they applied themselves. On what he made of CSK's total, he is all praise for his bowlers. Says that despite CSK losing just a couple of wickets, they still managed to restrict them to 212. Calls it a good pitch to bat on. Again reiterates that poor fielding made the difference in the end. When asked whether the pitch changed in the second inning, he details that it got slightly tougher for the CSK bowlers because of the dew factor, but credits them for bowling really well.

Overton's spell breaks DC's back - Chennai Super Kings will be pleased to get off the mark, though their bowling wasn't quite on point in the Powerplay. However, Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj pulled things back with a couple of quick wickets, before Jamie Overton and Gurjapneet Singh added to the damage to bring the game under control. Noor finally picked up his first wicket of the season but still looked a touch off. What really stood out, though, was CSK's attitude in the field, highlighted by a superb catch from Sarfaraz, which proved to be a key difference. On a good batting surface, Overton was exceptional, finishing with figures of 4/18 to almost single-handedly take the game away from DC, while Kamboj applied the finishing touches to wrap it up with a three-for.

Samson shines for CSK - Earlier in the game, CSK posted their second 200-plus first-innings total of the season, powered by Sanju Samson finally coming to the party for his new team with a smashing 115* off 56, bringing up his fourth IPL hundred in the process. He was well supported by a quick-fire fifty from Ayush Mhatre and a late blitz from Shivam Dube to push the total even further. Axar Patel was the only bowler for Delhi Capitals to pick up a wicket, with the other dismissal being a run-out, while Aqib Nabi was economical in his two overs, but apart from him, none of the bowlers managed to keep their economy under 9, with DC also spilling a few chances in the field, which only added to their woes.

Collapse after Powerplay push - Delhi Capitals got off the blocks quickly, with Nissanka once again leading the charge with a brisk 41 off 24, as the opening pair added 61 in no time, but both fell on that score. It soon slipped to 66/3 and then 76/4, putting them firmly on the back foot. The Protea pair of David Miller and Stubbs then consolidated with a crucial 45-run stand, but Miller fell at an inopportune moment, leaving his countryman to carry the fight alone. Ashutosh Sharma, the Impact Sub, chipped in with a few lusty blows but couldn’t stay long, leaving Stubbs to battle on. He did keep the hopes alive with a gritty half-century, but the target ultimately proved to be a bit too much.

CSK up and running at last - Chennai Super Kings have finally broken their duck, winning their first game of the season, and that too in front of their home fans, ending a run of six defeats at Chepauk. It's exactly what they needed to kickstart their campaign, and it also lifts them off the bottom of the table. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, suffer back-to-back defeats, and in both games, they’ll feel that had they done better in the small moments, things could have turned out very differently.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! And after a long wait, this gets the Super Kings on-board in this year's IPL. Anshul Kamboj bowls it at 132.8 kph, full and angling away, wide outside off. Ngidi reaches out and throws his hands at it, but only manages a thick outside edge that flies straight into the hands of Gurjapneet who is positioned at a straightish short third. Chepauk is up on its feet and the Men in Yellow are delighted to bits. CSK BEAT DC BY 23 RUNS!

Low full toss, dips outside off. Lungi Ngidi extends his arms wide and hits it uppishly from the toe end towards widish deep cover for a couple of runs.

Misses again! Similar line and length, full and angling outside off. Lungi Ngidi swings to get it over cover, but misses out.

Swing and a miss! At 135.6 kph, this is pushed outside off, on a fuller length. Lungi Ngidi clears the front leg but cannot get bat on ball. Oh no! Kamboj has overstepped and No Ball is called. Free Hit to come next...

Fires it full and on leg, T Natarajan eases it down to long on for a single.

Hits the deck hard, from around the stump, over off. T Natarajan has a loose waft at it and is beaten on the outside edge.

T Natarajan is the last man in for Delhi Capitals.

OUT! TAKEN! Kuldeep bites the dust as well. Full in length and on the middle stump. Kuldeep steps out and tries to go inside out over extra cover but mishits it completely in the air. Brevis, moving swiftly to his right from cover, pouches it safely. CSK are just 1 wicket away from winning.

Last over coming up now, 28 required. It will be bowled by Anshul Kamboj. Also, CSK have been penalised for slow over rate and will have to keep an extra fielder inside the circle.

On a length, on off, Kuldeep pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. End of an excellent spell from Jamie Overton. He finishes with figures of 4-0-18-4. A sure-shot match-winning performance.

Slower ball on a length outside off. Kuldeep shuffles across before working it towards the bowler.

Shortish on middle and leg. Ngidi hops around his crease and drop-kicks it into the square leg region for a single.

DC's last remaining hope is gone now. Looks like the Delhi camp is not happy with something here. Simon Doull mentions on air that just before the wicket ball, Stubbs had asked for a glove change, but the umpires denied his request. Also, Lungi Ngidi comes out to the middle now.

OUT! MISCUED AND GONE! That should be the game for CSK. Wicket number 4 for Overton. He is fired up and understandably so. Cannoned in on a fuller length, around off. Tristan Stubbs tries to muscle it over mid off, but gets the ball sliced instead. Airs it toward mid off where Noor Ahmad backtracks a bit and takes a fine catch with a reverse cup in front of his face. A fighting knock from Stubbs comes to an end. Delhi Capitals are 183/8, needing 30 more runs from 9 balls.

Good review! Jamie Overton executes this one to perfection, serves it full and outside off, but just inside the tramline. Tristan Stubbs throws his bat at it but misses. It is called a wide, but Overton straightaway signals his skipper to take the review. The Ball Tracking shows that some part of the ball is inside the wide guideline. The on-field call is changed.

WIDE! Over the head, down leg. Stubbs tries to pull the slower ball behind, but misses. Wide called anyways.

Full just outside off. Kuldeep shuffles across to flick but misses it completely, taking it on the pads and the ball rolls into the leg side. Overton charges across and fires in an underarm throw at the batting end, but it misses the stumps and Stubbs gets home safely. Leg bye taken.

Jamie Overton to bowl the penultimate over.

FOUR! That's been struck with some venom! Kamboj misses the yorker, sliding it in as a low full toss angling away outside off. Stubbs clears the front leg and hammers it back down the ground, and the long off fielder can only watch helplessly as it beats him to his right.

Very full on middle, zipped in hard. Kuldeep goes for the reverse ramp, seemingly with the back of the bat, and it spoons away towards a very fine deep third for a single. Khaleel gets across in the deep to cut it off.