Ambati Rayudu fifty boosts Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils

Ambati Rayudu (50) continued his magnificent form at the top of the order as he notched up his third fifty in IPL 2018 and put Chennai Super Kings on course to overhaul Delhi Daredevils’ score of 162/6 at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Friday.

Dhoni’s side, currently second in the points table and needing a win to secure a top-two finish, started off slowly as they reached 14/0 in three overs. However, Rayudu got going by hammering a half-volley from Avesh Khan past extra cover for his first boundary.

However, the right-hander got going in the sixth over as he blasted three sixes and a four off Avesh. The first six was a pull shot over deep square leg, the second another pull shot over deep mid wicket and the third was also deposited over mid wicket.

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Rayudu continued to grow in confidence as he punched a quicker ball from leg spinner Amit Mishra to deep extra cover and blasted a six straight down the ground for his fourth six. The right-hander survived a run-out chance on 43 as Glenn Maxwell missed a direct hit at the bowler’s end.

Rayudu notched up his fifty off 27 balls by punching a full ball from Harshal Patel to long on but he failed to carry on as he danced down the track and miscued a whip off his pads to be caught by Maxwell just near the boundary at deep mid wicket.

However, the knock has given Chennai Super Kings a solid platform from which they can eye victory and a finish in the top two.