KL Rahul-inspired DC crush CSK by 25 runs to break 15-year jinx at Chepauk
Chennai, Apr 5 (PTI): Delhi Capitals' juggernaut continued unabated in the ongoing IPL as they rode on KL Rahul's exemplary batting and some disciplined bowling to register their third successive win in the ongoing IPL with a 25-run victory over Chennai Super Kings here on Saturday.
This was DC's first win at Chepauk in 15 years, even as CSK's struggles continued this season.
Batting first, DC posted 183 for six after Rahul mixed his trademark elegance with brute force during a 51-ball 77. The stylish Rahul struck six fours and three sixes while anchoring the innings.
Tristan Stubbs chipped in with an unbeaten 12-ball 24 before Matheesha Pathirana (1/31) bowled a brilliant final over to prevent DC from finishing their innings on a high.
However, CSK were stopped at 158 for five in their allotted 20 overs, much to the disappointment of their home crowd that had flocked to the venue to pack the stands.
Vijay Shankar top-scored for CSK with 69 off 54 balls, while MS Dhoni remained not out on 30 in 26 deliveries.
CSK lost three wickets inside the powerplay, leaving the rest of the batting to play catch-up on a challenging wicket.
With the in-form Mitchell Starc (1/27) steaming in and Mukesh Kumar (1/36) keeping it tight at the other end, CSK found the going tough and both bowlers enjoyed early success, the Australian left-arm speedster laying a trap for Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) and the Indian pacer sending back Rachin Ravindra (3) after the Kiwi got a leading edge while trying to flick it through midwicket.
Devon Conway (13), one of the crowd favourites who replaced Jamie Overton in this match, too fell cheaply after getting a leading edge while trying to work the ball over midwicket. Young leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam (2/27) was the successful bowler on that occasion, as CSK slipped to 41 for three in the sixth over.
After taking a fine catch to dismiss Shivam Dube, Tristan Stubbs dropped a sitter off Vijay Shankar, when the batter was on 27 and looking to accelerate with the promoted Dhoni at the other end.
Dhoni, whose decision to bat at number 9 against Royal Challengers was not well-received by fans, walked in at the fall of the fifth wicket but he was not able to get those big hits going, as the DC emerged winners.
Earlier, the Capitals suffered a jolt at the start of their innings thanks to an excellent first over from Khaleel Ahmed (2/25), who had big-hitting opener Jake Fraser-McGurk caught after putting him under pressure with four dot balls.
Credit to Khaleel for plotting Fraser-McGurk's dismissal by banging the ball on the good length instead of allowing him to play in the 'V', something the young Australian is good at.
Notwithstanding the early jitter, DC managed to score 51 runs in the power play and that was largely because of the enterprise shown by Abhishek Porel (33 off 20 balls), who collected 19 runs from left-arm fast-medium bowler Mukesh Choudhary's first over.
Playing this game in place of Rahul Tripathi, Choudhary struggled to get his length right and was bowling either too full of too short, and Porel took full advantage of some wayward bowling.
Khaleel returned to bowl another fine over and Choudhary too did much better in his second over.
KL Rahul broke the shackles with a six over deep square leg off Khaleel before CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad introduced spin in the form of the seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin in the sixth over, hoping for a wicket.
The much-needed breakthrough, however, came in the next over as Porel ended up giving an easy catch to Matheesha Pathirana after driving Ravindra Jadeja uppishly in the left-arm spinner's first over.
It was a soft dismissal, and Porel would be frustrated with it as he was looking good for a big one after having settled down nicely.
Axar Patel began his innings with a six over long-on off Jadeja but, like Porel, the DC skipper too got out after getting his eye in, for a 14-ball 21.
On either side of Axar's dismissal, Rahul struck two sixes off Noor Ahmad and Jadeja respectively, before reaching his 38th IPL fifty off 33 balls.
Rahul found an able ally in Sameer Rizvi (20 off 15 balls) as the duo added 56 runs for the fourth wicket in quick time.
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals: 183 for 6 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 77, Abishek Porel 33; Khaleel Ahmed 2/25).
Chennai Super Kings: 158 for 5 in 20 overs (Vijay Shankar 69 not out, MS Dhoni 30 not out; Vipraj Nigam 2/27).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
200 parrots die of food poisoning in MP's Khargone district
Khargone (PTI): At least 200 parrots have died on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district due to food poisoning, officials said on Friday.
The carcasses were found in the last four days near an aqueduct bridge on the riverbank in the Badwah area, and a post-mortem report has ruled out bird flu as the cause, they said.
Some parrots were alive during rescue operations, but the toxicity of the food was so severe that they died shortly thereafter, District wildlife warden Tony Sharma said.
The deaths triggered panic in the area after a suspected bird flu scare, but veterinary examinations found no trace of the infection. Forest department officials have banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge and deployed staff at the site for strict enforcement.
Viscera samples from the birds were sent to Jabalpur for further examination, officials said.
According to officials from the veterinary department, food poisoning and improper diet have caused the deaths.
Teams from the veterinary and forest departments, as well as the wildlife wing, have been monitoring the area for the past four days after being alerted by residents.
Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, said symptoms of food poisoning were found in the parrots, with no indicators of bird flu.
People often unknowingly feed birds food that proves fatal to their digestive systems, she said.
Veterinary extension officer Dr Suresh Baghel said rice and small pebbles were found in the stomachs of dead birds.
Prima facie, the deaths seem to be linked to improper feeding, he said, citing pesticide exposure from feeding in sprayed fields and water from the Narmada River as contributing factors.
Visitors to the bridge feeding cooked or leftover food to birds may have proved fatal, officials said.
_vb_55.jpeg)
