Delhi Capitals captain David Warner (0) considers losing early wickets accountable for a 27-run loss in the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2023 Match 55 against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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Although chasing a 168-run target against this opposition at this venue would’ve always required some effort from the visitors, Delhi were still anticipated to do better than ending up with 140/8 in 20 overs. Having scored 91/5 in 15 overs, DC found themselves in no position to seal a run-chase especially during the business end of the match.
Reduced to 25/3 in the fourth over, Capitals underwent a top-order collapse which consisted of Warner hitting an ordinary Deepak Chahar (1* & 2/28) delivery to Ajinkya Rahane (21) at cover on the second ball that he faced. Similarly, Warner’s opening partner Phil Salt (17) also hit a nothing delivery from Chahar to Ambati Rayudu (25) at mid-on.
Batter Manish Pandey (27) deserting all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (5) in a massive mix-up was the last thing which Delhi needed especially after losing their openers cheaply.
“[We lost because of] Losing three wickets in the powerplay. This is the fifth or sixth [sixth] time we have lost a wicket in the first over. To be honest, it was us throwing our wickets away. I don’t think there was any good bowling to get us out,” Warner told host broadcaster Star Sports Network after the loss.
David Warner rues not chasing a “gettable” target at Chepauk
Warner, who reckoned the target to be “gettable”, rued Marsh’s run-out before his batters weren’t able to get going against the spinners in the middle overs. Honest enough to point out how his middle-order wasn’t able to rotate the strike, Warner found it difficult to come to terms with how they (including himself) were not able to hit balls which deserved to be hit.
It is noteworthy that DC scored only 34 runs between overs 5-12. In addition to not being able to convert individual starts, Pandey and Rilee Rossouw (35) scoring a combined total of 62 (66) hurt the team’s chances of winning their fifth match of the season.
“You can be conservative but when you hit a wide half-tracker to cover, it was there to be hit. If good balls get you out, it is different. We just need to hit those wide half-trackers better,” Warner mentioned.
Having lost seven out of their first 11 matches, Capitals might not be able to qualify for the playoffs even if they win all their remaining three league matches. Warner and his men will next host Punjab Kings in Delhi on Saturday.
