IPL 2021, DC vs CSK as it happened: Hetmyer’s late surge takes Delhi Capitals past the finish line

11.30 pm: A strange game indeed, but possibly not the last time we have seen these two sides play this season.

Player of the match: Axar Patel

DC WIN! Bravo strays on to Rabada’s pad, it’s gone for four. Delhi Capitals clinch a rollercoaster by 3 wickets and have all but ensured a top two finish.

Over 19.3: WICKET! Axar Patel (5) is out, c Moeen Ali b Dwayne Bravo, 135/7

19.2: Yikes... Bravo completely loses control of a delivery that lands beyond Dhoni (standing up to stumps) and outside the pitch. No ball. Wait, they have changed it a wide. 2 off 5 balls. Not a free hit.

DC 131/6 after 19: Hetmyer (with a helping hand) has made this DC’s match. 6 off 6 balls. Bravo with the final over.

19th over: 0-1-0 to start the 19th over by Hazlewood...

...Hetmyer then smacks one over square leg six!

Gowtham... must not be feeling good about that.

After 18 overs, DC 121/6 (Target 137) Costly over, in more ways than one, for CSK.

Bravo time finally...

17.2: Bravo to Hetmyer, 4... slapped down the ground!

17.3: Bravo to Hetmyer, hit straight to long on, parried by Gowtham... still 4

Suddenly, Delhi’s game again. Gowtham might have cost his side the game there.

After 17 overs, DC 109/6 (Target 137) No Bravo yet for CSK! Dhoni going to Thakur for his final over, just 5 off it. 4-0-13-2! What a spell from the allrounder.

After 16 overs, DC 104/6 (Target 137) Smart from Dhoni to keep things in check by bringing on Moeen for two lefties in the middle. Hetmyer and Axar play that over out.

Over 14.6: WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan (39) c Moeen Ali b Shardul Thakur, 99/6

Two deliveries after he thought he had Dhawan out (overturned on review, caught behind decision), Thakur does get the massive wicket! Dhawan slaps a cross-seam ball to Ali at cover.

Over 14.1: WICKET! R Ashwin (2) b Shardul Thakur, 98/5

Thakur makes things happen! Gets one through the defence of Ashwin who takes his time to have a long look at the pitch. Top delivery.

Shikhar Dhawan is carrying on solid since a blistering start, but Delhi Capitals have lost wickets at the other end to keep CSK alive in this match. Jadeja has taken two wickets to finish with 2/28.

Over 12.5: WICKET! Ripal Patel (18) Deepak Chahar b Ravindra Jadeja, 93/4

Another attempt at a big shot, doesn’t go the batter’s way. Ripal is caught at long on. Jadeja just about keeping CSK interested in this match.

After 11 overs, DC 84/3 (Target 137) Smart batting from Ripal to use Jadeja’s pace. Couple of boundaries in that over.

After 10 overs, DC 75/3 (Target 137) Shardul Thakur does Shardul Thakur things. Comes in to the attack and bowls a 3-run over. Ripal Patel is the new batter in. Pressure starting to build slightly on DC

Timeout: Not a big target and all but a bit perplexing to see DC in a hurry to finish and expose their middle order. Not like they need to improve their NRR if they win this match.

Over 8.5: WICKET! Rishabh Pant (15) out, c Moeen Ali b Ravindra Jadeja, 71/3

Soon after surviving a close stumping attempt down the leg side, Pant falls to Jadeja. Had hit a four earlier in the over too, so perhaps one big shot too many. DC want to finish this in a hurry but their middle order is now exposed.

After 8 overs, DC 62/2 (Target 137) Pant welcomes Moeen with a six over midwicket. DC keep going.

After 7 overs, DC 56/2 (Target 137) Another huge appeal in Jadeja’s over, this time for LBW against Pant. Not out given, no review for CSK. Would have been umpire’s call, DRS shows later.

After 6 overs, DC 51/2 (Target 137) Huge appeal from Dhoni and Co. Caught behind down the leg side? No, Pant survives. CSK lose their review.

Over 5.5: WICKET! Shreyas Iyer (2) c Ruturaj Gaikwad b Josh Hazlewood, 51/2

That one stopped on Iyer and he gets into a big tangle. Lobs one to the fielder on the offside.

After 5 overs, DC 48/1 (Target 137) 6-4-4-6-0-1 SHIKHAR DHWAN ON FIRE! 21 runs in Deepak Chahar over. This is sensational powerplay batting. Using both sides of the wicket, reading the length and pace early.

After 4 overs, DC 27/1 (Target 137): Good over from Hazlewood, with Iyer getting his eye in.

Over 2.3: WICKET! Prithvi Shaw (18) c Faf du Plessis b Deepak Chahar, 24/1

That’s the Shaw way. Kept going for his shots and DChahar, as he does, strikes in the powerplay. Mistimed lofted off drive.

DC 20/0 after 2 overs (Target: 137) DC are up, up and away. Two fours for Shaw in Hazlewood’s over.

DC 8/0 after 1 over (Target: 137) Intent to go big right away from DC openers, no surprise. Shaw gets a mishit hoick, Dhawan finishes the over with four.

Deepak Chahar will start. Shaw and Dhawan in the middle

CSK 136/5 after 20 overs: Wonder what MS Dhoni would think of that innings if he saw that as, say, CSK’s mentor. Not the easiest of pitches to bat, but then the captain had to at least give space for the others to go after the bowling. Let’s see, if CSK can make a match out of it.

End of CSK innings: 136/5 after 20 overs. Axar Patel and Co magnificent, Rayudu’s late surge (55*) takes CSK to a decent total. Jadeja barely got a hit out there after Dhoni’s struggles. Avesh finished with a 4-run over.

Over 19.1: WICKET! MS Dhoni (18) c Rishabh Pant b Avesh Khan, 132/5: End of MS Dhoni’s struggle. A 27-ball 18. He is out first ball of the last over, Avesh strikes. That was hard to watch.

CSK 132/4 after 19 overs: Rayudu has finally found some hitting rhythm in the last few overs and has reached a half century with a flurry of boundaries. A 40-ball 53. A 6 and 4 in that over, the former a lovely shot over cover. But it’s been a struggle for Dhoni at the other end, on a 26-ball 18 at the moment.

CSK 118/4 after 18 overs: CSK HAVE LIFTOFF! Kinda. A big over for the men in yellow as Rayudu goes after Avesh Khan, hitting a four and a six over square leg in that over. Misfield from Dhawan helped.

CSK 104/4 after 17 overs: HUZZAH, A FOUR! Rayudu takes on Rabada down the ground. But despite that just five runs there

CSK 99/4 after 16 overs: Another over with just singles! Nortje this time.

CSK from 13th to 16th overs: 111011 000111 111011 111111 

CSK 93/4 after 15 overs: All binary at the moment for CSK. 1s and 0s. Five singles in Ashwin’s over, as he finishes with 1/20.

CSK 88/4 after 13 overs: Yikes! Three dot balls to start the over from Rabada to Dhoni followed by three singles.

Rabada continues after the timeout. He has had joy against Dhoni, good call from DC right away.

CSK 85/4 after 13 overs: End of a sensational spell from Axar, 4-0-18-2 for the spinner. Finishes with a 5-run over.

(Correction) CSK 80/4 after 12 overs: Is that the over that kickstarts CSK’s push for a good score? Rayudu takes on Avesh, expecting the outside off length and hitting a couple of boundaries.

Avesh Khan back. CSK need a move on.

CSK 72/4 after 11 overs: The DC spinners are bowling well in tandem, Ashwin concedes just three runs in his third over. Chennai haven’t hit a boundary in 33 balls.

CSK 69/4 after 10 overs: Another good over from Axar, just four singles from it. The left-arm spinner has impressive figures of 2/13 from three overs at the moment.

CSK 65/4 after 9 overs: MS Dhoni is the new batter at the crease. The CSK skipper has a big job on his hands.

CSK 62/4 after 8.3 overs: WICKET! It’s all Delhi Capitals at the moment! Robin Uthappa attempts a slog and gets a top edge, R Ashwin gets under it and completes the return catch. Uthappa walks back for 19 off 19.

CSK 59/3 after 7.4 overs: WICKET! Axar Patel gets his second wicket, Shreyas Iyer takes his second catch. This time it’s Moeen Ali who finds the fielder in the deep. Ambati Rayudu comes to the crease as Moeen departs for 5 off 8.

CSK 56/2 after 7 overs: Ashwin joins the attack and bowls consecutive wides down leg to Moeen, the off-spinner concedes eight runs in his first over. Moeen and Uthappa have an important job to do in the middle overs.

CSK 48/2 after 6 overs: Four! Rabada strays in line and Uthappa clips it comfortably to the fine leg fence. Delhi got key wickets in the powerplay but Chennai will be happy with their run-rate.

CSK 39/2 after 4.4 overs: WICKET! CSK have lost both their openers in the powerplay! Nortje strikes for Delhi Capitals as the in-form Gaikwad gets a top edge and is caught by Ashwin. Moeen is the new batter at the crease as Gaikwad departs for 13 off 13.

CSK 36/1 after 4 overs: Shot! Rabada pitches it on a length and Gaikwad plays a gorgeous front foot drive on-the-rise for four. The right-hander scored a magnificent century in his last innings and he has gotten off to another start.

CSK 28/1 after 2.4 overs: WICKET! Axar Patel removes Faf du Plessis! It was pulled in the air and Shreyas Iyer ran in from the deep to take a fine catch. Big breakthrough for Delhi Capitals! Uthappa is the new batter as Faf walks back for 10 off 8.

CSK 26/0 after 2 overs: Another solid over for Chennai! Avesh starts his spell with a sharp delivery that strikes Faf on the gloves, but the South African right-hander responds by cracking boundaries on either side of the pitch.

CSK 16/0 after 1 over: Gaikwad survives! Nortje got one to angle in and crash into the right-hander’s front pad, the umpire raised his finger but DRS showed the ball missing leg. Gaikwad followed that up with an edge over the slip cordon for four, before ending the over with four leg byes. Expensive, fiery first over from the South African pacer.

7.30 pm: Anrich Nortje has the new ball, with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis at the crease. Here we go!

Playing XIs:

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Ripal Patel, Axar Patel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje.

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.

7.05 pm: Delhi Capitals have one change: Steve Smith misses out and Ripal Patel will make his IPL debut. CSK have three changes: Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Robin Uthappa come in for Sam Curran, KM Asif and Suresh Raina.

Toss:

Rishabh Pant, who is celebrating his 24th birthday today, has won the toss and Delhi Capitals will bowl first.

IPL 2021 results, fixtures and points table: RCB seal playoff spot, KKR strengthen their chances

6.50 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of match No 50 of Indian Premier League 2021. Tonight, Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals take on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in Dubai.