New Delhi, 21 May: Chennai Super King (CSK)  showed no mercy on the hosts as they thrashed Delhi Capitals   by 77 runs to book their place in the playoff of this season’s IPL  at Arun Jaitely Stadium here on Saturday. 

CSK is the second team to make it to the Playoff after the Gujrat Titans. The Dhoni-led side is making it to the playoff of the IPl for the record 12t time 

Delhi Capitals' hopes of signing off the league on a victorious note went up in the smoke as CSK produced a highly professional performance with bat and ball to emerge, worthy winner, 

Opting to bat first after winning the toss CSK had a blistering start with openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway putting up 141 runs for the first wicket in 14.2 overs and that totally demoralized the hosts. The visitors piled up 223 for 3 in 20 overs 

In reply Delhi Capitals could manage only 146 for 9 in 20 overs and but for skipper David Warner’s spirited 86 the host's plight would have been worst. The skipper hit five Sixes and 7 boundaries in his knock which came off 56 balls 

"Wicket seems hard, but it may slow down as the game progresses. Day game, heat could be a factor, so that's why we're batting first, "said Dhoni  and he proved his point, 

On the other hand, Warner said "Today, it's all about trying to spoil CSK's party Match-ups are important for us in this game and we've made changes accordingly."  The Australian not only failed to spoil the CSK party but his team  also failed to put up a decent fight in their last league match   

Delhi’s reply began on a disastrous note as they lost three wickets for 26 runs in 4.5 overs, a brief 49-run fourth wicket partnership between Warner and Yash Dhull (13) raised the hope of a fight back but that too evaporated after Dhull’s departure. 

Axar Patel with 15 runs was the second-highest scorer for the Hosts and that exposed the fragile nature of the middle order of the Delhi Capitals.  Deepak Chahar took three wickets while the SriLankan duo of Mahessh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana claimed two wickets each.  

Earlier Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway gave CSK a fiery start as they put up 141 runs for the first wicket . The two openers sent the Delhi bowlers on a leather hunt sending them all over and across the park. 

None of the bowlers could impact the batters and just wilted under the onslaught. Conway made his intention clear as he smashed the 1000th six of the seasons and the visitors got  off the block .quickly  negotiating pacer off color Khalil Ahmed and spinner Lalit Yadav with ease and raced to 50 in five overs. 

Khaleel was replaced by Anrich Nortje, who turned out to be equally ineffective with Conway and Gaikwad hitting boundaries  s and sixes with ease. Without slogging or playing a shot out of desperation, Conway hit some stunning strokes. 

He then punished  Nortjie hitting for a couple and then blasted down the ground past mid-off. 

On the other end, Gaikwad was busy pulverizing the bowlers in his own way. He went after Axar Patel first hitting him effortlessly inside-out over extra cover and then walloped p him for two maximums to complete his fifty off just 37 balls and CSK reached 87 in 10 overs. 

Kuldeep Yadav was the other bowler to be punished by Gaikwad. The opener hit him for three successive Sixes as  the pinner scurried for a cover, 

Not to be left behind, Conway also reached his fifty in 33 balls and the two took the score to 141 when Delhi managed to get their first breakthrough.   

It was Chetan Sarkaria who ended the partnership when he had Gaikwad caught at deep by Rossouw. The opener made 79 off 50 balls and his knock was studded with seven sixes and three boundaries. 

Shivam Dubey and Conway put up 54 runs in three overs to take the score to 195 in 17.5 overs before Shivam departed. His contribution was 22 runs off nine balls and three sixes. 

Dhoni came at the number-fourth slot as the packed stadium erupted into thunderous applause. But Conway departed soon after without any addition to the team Nortje took his wicket. Conway’s 87 came off 52 balls and was studded with 11 boundaries and three sixes. 

Dhoni (5) and Ravinder Jadeja (20) added 28 runs off 12 balls as CSK closed their innings at 223 for 3 .

Gaikwad was declared man of the Match