And then there were three… Delhi Capitals will duel it out with CSK in Visakhapatnam on Friday. This time around there are no second chances – the winner gets a ticket to the big dance, the loser books a plane ticket home.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS vs DELHI CAPITALS (Friday 10 May)

Setting the Scene: Both teams finished equal with Mumbai on 18 points at the top of the log so it’s probably just right that these are the two fighting it out for a spot in the final. Chennai have lost a bit of their early momentum of late (especially when playing away from home). Delhi have been fragile in the lower order and this has remained a big issue right throughout the comp. This is a clash between the young talents and the old war horses. The men in yellow have been there and seen and done it all. Can the veterans lift their game on the day to match the hunger and purpose of their youthful opponents?

Let’s Talk Tactics: It was clear to see in Visakhapatnam that that the new ball was flying off the bat but it became much tougher to score in the middle and latter overs. Both teams would have done well to note this and realise that they need to adjust their tactics accordingly.

The Super Kings have struggled for consistent runscorers and they will again rely on an individual cameo or two from the likes of Faf and Dhoni. As mentioned, this track slows up considerably during the innings and as such the CSK spinners will come into it in a big way.

Delhi hit yet another speedhump lower down the order, after good contributions at the top, and this must be of huge concern to coach Ponting. With the ball Bolt isn’t nearly as effective as Rabada at the death and their own tweakers will have to perform at their optimum to keep them in the game.

Verdict: With the youth comes less fear of failure and trusting your instincts. Pant and Shaw trump what CSK have in their six hitting arsenal for mind. It’s knockout time and the skipper will be keen on putting his stamp on the game – time for Iyer to step up. With Dhawan, Pant, Ingram/Munro and Patel as lefties in the lineup Harbhajan could play a huge role. For the Capitals Mishra looked good at this ground on Wednesday and I’ll back him to perform here.

Bets with BETOLIMP:

Most match sixes – Delhi @ 2.00

Top Delhi Batsman – S Iyer @ 4.50

Top CSK Bowler – H Singh @ 4.33

Top Delhi Bowler – A Mishra @ 4.33

(Note, all odds quoted are subject to change)

Enjoy the cricket and happy punting!