Gaikwad, Uthappa Guide Chennai To 9th IPL Final

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa hit fifties and guided Chennai Super Kings to the ninth IPL Final after beating Delhi Capitals by four wickets in the first qualifier in Dubai on Sunday. 

Chasing 173, CSK lost Faf Du Plessis in the first over yet they managed 59 runs inside the powerplay courtesy of Gaikwad and Uthappa's attacking partnership. The two added 110 runs in 77 balls for the second wicket that set up the chase for Chennai. 

Delhi tried to sneak back into the game when they removed Uthappa for 63 and Shardul Thakur - a surprising move - in the same over. Ambati Rayudu got run out in the next over to increase the misery of CSK. 
However, a 30-run stand in 21 balls calmed things down in the Chennai camp. Gaikwad tried to clear the fence but found Axar Patel on the boundary and got out on 70 when Chennai needed 24 in the final two overs. 

In another surprising move, MS Dhoni decided to come before in-form Ravindra Jadeja. Dhoni smashed 18 off six balls - all in boundaries(3*4, 1*6) - and finished things off in style to take CSK to yet another IPL final. 

Earlier, DC was asked to bat first and lost two wickets inside the powerplay and made 51 runs - courtesy of Prithvi Shaw. The dashing opener made 60 off 34 balls to give Delhi a terrific start. 

Quick wickets made Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer take things slow as they added 83 from 50 balls for the fifth wicket. Hetmyer hit 37 from 24 balls with the help of three fours and a six while Pant hit 51 from 35 as Delhi finished on a competitive total of 172/5 in the first innings. 

Brief Scorecard: 

Delhi Capitals - 172/5 (Prithvi Shaw - 60; Josh Hazlewood - 2/29)
Chennai Super Kings - 173/6 in 19.4 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad - 70; Tom Curran - 3/29)