Dhoni's assault is the difference

Chennai Super Kings all but ensured qualification for the playoffs, and took an important step towards ending in the crucial top two, with a win that withstood the odd scare from Delhi Daredevils, who were formally knocked out of the tournament even though they have two games to go. It was a win not without the odd stutter. Delhi, missing talismanic Virender Sehwag, were spirited through Varun Aaron, but they also kept up the noble IPL IV tradition of offering lives to the Chennai batsmen. However, it was MS Dhoni, who didn't enjoy any of that generosity, that provided Chennai with the big finish. Dhoni scored 63 off 31 in Chennai's 37 in the last two overs and 109 in last 10.

Dhoni came to bat at 67 for 3 in the 11th over, but took control of the game with a counterattack, moving to 14 off five with a four of Ajit Agarkar and a four and a six off Andrew McDonald. Following that, Dhoni tucked into the bowling. There was power, and there was also cheek when he moved across and paddled Agarkar fine of short fine leg. Real punishment was reserved for the last two overs, bowled by Agarkar and the otherwise-economical Irfan Pathan. Agarkar missed his yorkers, and Badri hit his two low full tosses for a four and a six. Dhoni was deceived by a slower ball, but still managed to send it over extra cover.

Irfan began the 20th over well, at one point he even had respectable figures of 3.4-0-28-1. Then Dhoni unfurled two flat sixes off the last two balls, both full tosses, to provide the exclamation mark to the innings.