Event of the Day: Chennai Super Kings versus Delhi Capitals
Our event of the day is the IPL playoff match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Delhi Capitals at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The Chennai Super Kings, the IPL defending champions, have one last attempt to make the final after losing to the Mumbai Indians earlier in the week. They face the Delhi Capitals, who hope to make their first IPL final. This is sure to be an exciting match of T20 cricket. The Chennai Super Kings will do everything not to let the season end without a chance to defend their 2018 title. However, that defence hit an obstacle when they lost their qualifier match to the Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. The Super Kings were stymied by their opening three batters only managing twenty-two runs in 5.5 overs. While Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni managed 105 runs, the damage had been done and Chennai finished their twenty overs with Mumbai chasing just 131. A seventy-one run performance from Suryakumar Yadav was a major fact in Mumbai’s route to the final. However, the Super Kings will have their chance for revenge if they can win today, as that would set up a rematch against the Indians. To do that, they will have to overcome the Delhi Capitals.
The Capitals, who finished third in the regular season standings, began the playoffs well with a win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite a strong 162-run inning by Hyderabad, a half-century from Prithvi Shaw and forty-nine runs from Rishabh Pant helped put the Capitals into the second qualifier. When Delhi and Chennai met in the regular season, Chennai won both matches. The first, in late March, saw a six-wicket win for the Super Kings. The second, a little over a week ago, was a dominant rout by Chennai. After Delhi elected to field after winning the toss, Chennai scored 179 before holding Delhi to just ninety-nine in their twenty overs. Delhi has never made a finals appearance before while Chennai hunt their fourth title and seventh finals appearance. The Capitals come into the match with some potent assets at their disposal - the league’s fourth-highest run score in Shikhar Dhawan and the league’s top wicket-taker in Kagiso Rabada. Meanwhile, the Super Kings will look to their star players like Dhoni, Faf Du Plessis and Suresh Rania, to take them to the final. Be sure you don’t miss this exciting match.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA, where the Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors at the Toyota Center for game six of their conference semi-final series. The Warriors can clinch the series with a win tonight. However, they will likely be without Kevin Durant, who left game five with a calf injury. This potentially presents a perfect opportunity for James Harden and the Rockets to tie the series and force a game seven. You will not want to miss the next instalment of one of the NBA’s most exciting series. Elsewhere, Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle face off in an all-French final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup at St. James’ Park in Newcastle. The play-offs of the Royal London One-Day Cup also take place today. Worcestershire host Somerset at New Road while Middlesex hosts Lancashire at Lord’s. In the MLS, the Vancouver Whitecaps host the Portland Timbers at BC Place. On the European Tour, the British Masters continues at the Hillside Golf Club in Southport. In tennis, the Madrid Open continues at the Caja Mágica.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Delhi Capitals; Chennai Super Kings