Yesterday was one of the most exciting day of this year’s IPL yet, with 3 teams’ fate here hanging down a thin thread, intermingled in each other. In the first match of the day MI were facing the double D’s which had nothing to lose, and in the last, KXIP, which desperately needed to keep the franchise from another tragic year were facing CSK.

DD vs MI

After winning the toss and opting to bat first Delhi put on a decent total of 174 at the pitch which was going to play slow and spin, again, with the help of Pant power (64 of 44). MI bowlers failed to execute the plan (if they had one). No one stepped up except Bumrah (29 in 4 overs).

In the second inning, Lewis took responsibility of keep the required run rate within reach, while 2 wickets fell down the other end. There was a flurry of wickets after Lewis fell on the trap of Mishra’s wrong’un. Lamichanne removed the 3 at the top, Mishra sent 3 important men back with only Ben Cutting as MI’s last hope. Cutting kept the hope alive and how! But at the 2 nd ball of the last over, Harshal had better of him and sealed an 11 run win for DD.

CSK vs KXIP

MSD opted to bowl first owning to help the pitch was expected to generate for the bowlers. And bowler grabbed the chance both hands, especially Ngidi (4-10-4). Gayle walked off on a half-hearted appeal on the ball which was sliding down the leg. KL misjudged a leave on Ngidi’s in-swinger which knocked him off. It was only Nair (54 of 26) who survived the wrath of Ngidi. The constant fall of wicket limited KXIP to 154.

In the second inning, in spite of the fall of two early wickets, and slow start by Raina, Chennai looked in control throughout the game. Everyone knew it was just a matter of one good over which came very late in 19 th over. Only Ankit Rajpoot troubled the batsmen before Dhoni provided a trademark finish to the game with a six!