Xtra Time Web Desk: MS Dhoni finally rose to the occasion as he took Chennai Super Kings into the final of IPL 2021. Chasing a target of 173 runs set by Delhi Capitals, CSK reached home with two balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his good form in IPL 2021 as he scored 70 off 50 balls. Robin Uthappa also struck form when it mattered, scoring 63 from 44 balls. The duo added 110 runs for the second wicket to set the platform for Yellow Army to make it to their ninth IPL final.
Chennai required 24 runs from the two overs and were dealt a huge blow as set Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed by Avesh Khan off his first ball in the 19th over. Moeen Ali hit a boundary off the next ball before Dhoni smashed a slower bouncer for a six off the fifth ball. The equation came down to 13 off the final over.
Tom Curran removed Moeen Ali with his first delivery caught by Rabada in the deep. With 13 still required from 5 balls, Dhoni scored two consecutive boundaries to bring down the equation to 5 runs from 3 balls. Curran bowled a wide the next ball before Dhoni pulled a back of length delivery to square leg boundary to seal the match.
Earlier, Prithvi Shaw’s brilliant fifty and Rishabh Pant’s late half-century helped Delhi Capitals post 172/5. DC were 80/4 in the 11th before Pant and Shimron Hetmyer stitched a 83-run partnership for the fifth wicket to revive the innings.