Bowlers, Samson’s unbeaten 87 keep CSK afloat in IPL playoff race

Disciplined bowling and an unbeaten 87 by opener Sanju Samson helped Chennai Super Kings stay in the hunt for the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs with an eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals on Tuesday.

Batting first on a tough pitch backfired for hosts Delhi, who slipped to 69-5 before posting 155-7 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

What stood out was not just Samson’s authority on pitch easing out, but also the way he played sensibly and took the chase deep in a classic CSK style.

Five-time champions Chennai lost two early wickets in the chase, but Samson paced his 52-ball knock to perfection as his team chased down the target with 15 balls to spare.

After leading CSK to a crucial win, Samson said his calm approach and sticking to basics have been key to him making runs in the yellow jersey this season.

“They’re calling me Chetta, but I like Sanju more. You try to see what works well, stick to the basics, and trust your hands to do the rest. I just stuck to the process, and it’s working out well.

“I’ve been doing it for the last 3-5 years, it’s a tactical bit as well, I move around a bit according to the bowlers.

“I’m always like this. The biggest change is you’re seeing more of me, but I’m always calm,” Samson said after being named Player of the Match.

A crowd of 32,160 turned up for the Delhi Capitals‑Chennai Super Kings clash as the chants of “CSK, CSK” rolled across the stands as Samson delivered a knock worthy of that backdrop.

The victory keeps the five‑time champions in sixth place, but crucially just two points adrift of the crowded playoff zone.

Samson, a wicketkeeper-batter, put on an unbeaten 114-run stand with Kartik Sharma, who made 41, as the two ensured a fifth win for Chennai.

On missing the century, Samson, who previously hit an unbeaten hundred against DC in this season at Chepauk, said, “Hundreds are always special. There was a desire, but I had to be a bit too selfish to get it. My partner was playing well and winning the game gave me more confidence and happiness.

“A few more matches to come, let’s see if it comes around,” he added.

Delhi’s chances of making the playoffs took a hit as they went down to their sixth defeat.

The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the playoffs.

In-form Samson, who has hit two centuries in the season, reached his fifty in 32 balls and finished with seven fours and six sixes.

He has scored 402 runs in 10 matches this edition and is fifth in the batting chart led by Delhi’s KL Rahul (445).

Samson came into this edition of the IPL on the back of three half-centuries in the last three matches of India’s T20 World Cup triumph on home soil in March.

Delhi’s South Africa pace bowler Lungi Ngidi returned after missing the previous two matches with concussion.

Ngidi claimed 1-30, dismissing skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, for six, with a pacy delivery.

But it was the Chennai bowlers who exploited the surface. Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad stood out with figures of 2-22 and was ably supported by fellow spinner Akeal Hosein (1-19).

Fast bowlers Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh and England’s Jamie Overton claimed one wicket each as they bowled good lengths to restrict the opposition.

South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs made 38 and impact substitute Sameer Rizvi struck an unbeaten 40 off 24 balls to hit back after Delhi lost half their side in the 11th over.

Stubbs and Rizvi, who struck four sixes, put on 65 runs for the sixth wicket but the effort was not enough to test Chennai’s batting.

One of the most successful franchises in the T20 tournament, Chennai are still waiting for the return of veteran M.S. Dhoni, who is recovering from an injury and is yet to play a game in this edition.

Agencies

Brief scores:

Delhi Capitals 155/7 in 20 overs (Sameer Rizvi 40 not out, Tristan Stubbs 38; Noor Ahmad 2-22, Jamie Overton 1-5) lost to Chennai Super Kings 159/2 in 17.3 overs (Sanju Samson 87 not out, Kartik Sharma 41 not out; Axar Patel 1-25, Lungi Ngidi 1-30) by eight wickets