Twitter Reactions: Disciplined bowlers of CSK restrict the hosts to 162

The dead rubber between Delhi Daredevils (DD) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was expected to be a thrilling encounter. But very few expected the capitulation from the home side. After losing the toss, the openers Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw strode out to the middle with an aim to provide a good start to their team. But they ended up playing dot balls courtesy of some good bowling from the visitors. Though Shaw tried to up the ante and played some scintillating strokes on his way to 17.

But Deepak Chahar dismissed him in the fifth over to bring the man in form Rishabh Pant to the middle as the duo, as they have usually done, stitched a decent partnership together. While the skipper struggled to get going today, Pant was once again on song and in the process took his runs tally past 600 for this season. Both added 54 runs for the second wicket but the pitch was slow which didn’t help their cause. However, Iyer was under pressure to score runs and he failed to get going eventually being dismissed for 19 in the 11th over by Lungi Ngidi.

Ngidi dented the hopes of Delhi to post the big total on the board in the same over by sending back Pant who was looking dangerous. He scored 38 runs off just 26 balls and the batting of the home side began imploding again. His wicket triggered a mini-collapse as the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Abhishek Sharma in successive overs. Delhi lost their way from being comfortably placed at 78/1 to 97/5 and it felt like they will get bowled out under 20 overs.

However, it was the duo of Vijay Shankar and Harshal Patel who resurrected the innings by playing patiently. The former played a few attacking strokes by going deep into his crease even as his partner middled a few which helped the home side to post a decent total of 162 runs after their 20 overs. Dwayne Bravo was taken apart for 26 runs in the last over as Harshal smashed him for three sixes to remain unbeaten on 36 off just 16 deliveries.

Here’s how the Twitterati reacted during the course of the innings:

Just In : "130-135 would have been a too low score to chase, so I gave away 26 runs in the last over to let them reach 160 odd runs to make total strong. It's always good to have a competitive match than a one-sided one."

– Dwayne Bravo during innings break of #DDvCSK (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/mKMq4bcMnA

— TIMES HOW (@TiimesHow) May 18, 2018

What a inning @HarshalPatel23 bro ? #Dhoklapower? #DDvCSK #IPL11

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) May 18, 2018

#CSK seamers bowled wide to Rishabh. And also, MSD kept his spinners away from the swashbuckling southpaw. Always worth following Expert’s advice. Just like Mutual Funds. #FundaSahiHai @MFSahiHai #IPL #DDvCSK

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 18, 2018

Harshal Patel, the pride of Holmdel Cricket Club in the Cricket League of New Jersey, with a gargantuan straight six off DJ Bravo. Harshal used to slaughter spin bowlers in particular in the CLNJ when I saw him a few years ago. Could've played for USA!

— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) May 18, 2018

26 from Last over and Bravo scored 52 (24)
Harshal Patel 36 (16)
But still not a defendable score 162-5

— Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) May 18, 2018

Harshal Patel, Kadak batting macha. At least something on the board. Kuch toh dekhne milega second innings mein. #DDvCSK

— Abhishek (@Sajjanlaunda) May 18, 2018

In spite of sharing the same dressing room as Maxwell, amazing how Harshal Patel hasn’t let it bog him down.#DDvCSK

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) May 18, 2018

60 scored in the last 5 overs. Match took quite a turn in these death overs.
Vijay Shankar, Harshal Patel's fantastic partnership helps Delhi put up a decent total on board#DDvCSK

— AkShAtA (@MenInBlueDvotee) May 18, 2018

So Harshal Patel has hit three sixes to Dwayne Bravo in the last over. The Windies international conceded 26 runs in total. Now, who to go in the death MSD? That's a big worry now. #DDvCSK

— Gautam Sodhi (@GautamSodhi1) May 18, 2018

Harshal Patel was a member of the 2010 U-19 world cup team alongside KL Rahul. Was also picked for the 2010 IPL by Paltan aNi

— Yo Yo Tester (@noise_segar) May 18, 2018

#DDvCSK Harshal Patel came out of syllabus for CSK ?? 3 sixes to Bravo

— Arjun Chande (@arjun_chande) May 18, 2018

Harshal patel got two more matches to show his big hitting ability against death over specialists(bravo)
Hope he may be selcted in indian team soon by his performance.#DDvCSK

— Ravi Kumar (@ravikumar9s) May 18, 2018

Never seen harshal patel bat like this for rcb ?? #DDvCSK

— SRH! (@RaviTejaDevot3e) May 18, 2018