Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Daredevils by 18 runs

Chennai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni sent the bowlers on a leatherhunt as Chennai Super Kings kept their unbeaten record at Chepauk intact with a comfortable 18-run victory over Delhi Daredevils in a 12th round IPL encounter today.

Dhoni smashed his way to an unbeaten 63 off only 31 balls (5x4, 4x6) and along with an equally effective Subramanium Badrinath (55) guided CSK to a formidable 176 for four in 20 overs. With no Virender Sehwag in their line-up, the target was virtually impossible for Daredevils to chase as they managed only 158 for six in 20 overs.

Irfan Pathan scored an unbeaten 46 but that was never going to be enough.

With this win CSK notched up their eighth win in the competition and stretched their unbeaten streak at home to six matches.

The match will however be remembered for the contrasting half-centuries by Dhoni and Badrinath as they added 96 runs for the fourth wicket in only 9.2 overs.

In Image: Chennai Super Kings fielder Dwayne Bravo (R) celebrates with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (L) after catching out Delhi Daredevils batsman Colin Ingram

Text: PTI

Images: AFP

Scorecard   | IPL 2011