By Vadiraj Kanakagiri

This was one of the classic games of the IPL. Even though the game seemed to be following that boring route of the second batting team chasing the total quite easily, many captivating events were to unfold after the mid-stage of that innings.

The two teams that have dominated this tournament from the outset, locked horns yesterday at the Dubai international stadium. But if you had no idea of their place in the points table, you wouldn't believe that these are the best teams this season, because of drop in quality of play from both teams. In a game where committing mistakes became a norm, the Capital emerged victorious as they made less mistakes at the end.

Birthday boy Rishab Pant won the toss and decided to exploit the moisture on the wicket first up. His bowlers didn't disappoint him though. But the first couple of overs were an aberration. Anrich Nortje, the spearhead of the Capitals, leaked 16 in the very first over of the game. Seeing the ball hopping around prodigiously, Nortje couldn't control his line and went for the kill every delivery, costing him runs down leg. Avesh Khan gave away 10 in his first over and the score was 26 after two. To bring the game back to control, Pant decided to bring on the left-arm spin of Axar Patel and reaped rewards right away. Trying to mount the pressure on further, Du Plessis got out playing an ugly hoick. Credit must go to Pant for this move to bring spin on, even after having Rabada in his armory to exploit the early assistance for pace bowlers.

Ruturaj didn't look his own self in his short stay. He was adjudged out in the very first over, but he survived courtesy of a review. He top-edged a pull to the boundary. He couldn't find the gaps in his drives like he used to. Finally, he got out playing a pull shot, caught at mid-wicket. Robin Uthappa was playing his first of the season replacing Suresh Raina. He and Moeen Ali got off to slow starts and both got out going for the big ones, trying to release pressure. Chennai was restricted to 62 for 4 in the 9th over when Dhoni came in to join Ambati Rayudu at the crease.

Both took the over-cautious approach, even though they had plenty of firepowers left in the shed. Rayudu at least showed some intent to play big shots, but Dhoni kept blocking, nudging, and nurdling. He got cleaned up by Avesh Khan, going for a big slog. This batting approach from Dhoni has plagued Chennai for many years now, but has been concealed well by the emergence of Ravi Jadeja, the finisher. The same batting style was once booed by Indian fans while playing against England in England. The fact that there'll be no explanation for the matter of why he plays this way, is a big disrespect to a supporter of your team. Ambati Rayudu got a few away in the final overs and brought up his fifty. His innings was the lone shining light in an otherwise Chennai's incomprehensible batting innings.

Chasing a modest 137, the Capitals looked well on their way motoring along to 51 inside six. Prithivi Shaw got out on 18 playing one shot too many and Shreyas Iyer never really got going in his seven-ball stint. With quick little cameos from skipper Rishab and debutant Ripal Patel, Delhi raced onto 93 inside the 13th over mark. Shikhar Dhawan and holding one end up quite firmly, playing crisp strokes and looking comfortable at the crease. The Capitals dugout too didn't seem much dazed and were happy with how things were going.

Things really got very interesting, by this one over, the fifteenth of the innings, bowled by the Lord - Shardul Thakur. He clean bowled Ravi Ashwin with a beautiful inswinger, pitching outside and hitting off. Ashwin looked bewildered at his dismissal because of the movement that delivery had. Thakur kept bowling tight lines throughout the over and troubled Dhawan, who was a set batter. When he couldn't even get a single away, Dhawan was itching to go big. Sensing this, Thakur placed a man at short cover and bowled a full delivery outside off, to which Dhawan fell prey and smashed it straight into the hands of Moeen Ali.

With six down on 99, the game which was firmly placed in Delhi's hands, suddenly started to appear otherwise. Shimron Hetmyer was handed the finishing duties this season after an injury to Stoinis. And all the hopes were now pinned on him to get them over the line. Thakur bowled another tight over and Moeen Ali followed it with another. Dwayne Bravo, who hadn't bowled a delivery in the match, up till that point, was given the ball by Dhoni to bowl the 18th with 28 to get. On the third delivery, Hetmyer mistimed one to long-on and the substitute, K Gowtham dropped a sitter, and even worse, the ball rolled away to the boundary. Bravo leaked 12 in that over and seemed like he wasn't in control with his lines.

Delhi needed six to get over the line in the final over. With two left-handers at the crease, Dhoni had the option of going to Moeen Ali. But he trusted Bravo again. And it backfired. On the second delivery, Bravo called Dhoni up to the stumps and bowled a wide slower one, that went to short third. Yeah, that's how wide it was. The batsmen took a bye and the target was down by two. With two to get, Axar Patel handed his wicket away going for a big expansive drive, and was caught at short cover. Just when thoughts of a 'repeat of Karthik Tyagi heist' were resurfacing in our minds, Bravo sprayed one down leg to Rabada, who nonchalantly flicked it down to fine leg to sneak past the target.

Not the kind of victory that Delhi would be happy with, especially with their batting. But, they'll take the two points anyway. They've now earned two shots at the playoffs, which other team earns the other spot, remains to be seen.

Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 136/5 in 20 overs (Ambati Rayudu 55, Robin Uthappa 19; Axar Patel 2-18, Ravichandran Ashwin 1-20) lost to Delhi Capitals 139/7 in 19.4 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 39, Shimron Hetmyer 28*; Shardul Thakur 2-13, Ravindra Jadeja 2-28) by 3 wickets