Former champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the first team to enter the final of IPL-14 on Sunday and it was their skipper MS Dhoni, who played a crucial role in it. Dhoni, who has been struggling with his form, scored a six-ball 18 not out—his individual highest score this season—as CSK beat Delhi Capitals [DC] by four wickets in the Qualifier 1 at Dubai.

Dhoni, 40, had scored just 114 runs from 11 innings, but after the departure of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (50-ball 70, 5x4, 2x6) on the first ball of the penultimate over, he decided to promote himself, ahead of the in-form Ravindra Jadeja (who has scored 227 runs in 12 innings) and joined Moeen Ali (16) at No.7 with CSK needing 24 to win off 11 balls. Dhoni hammered one six off pacer Avesh Khan [1-47] and three fours in the last over off pacer Tom Curran (3-29) to secure the win with two balls to spare. Earlier, put in to bat, DC opener Prithvi Shaw (60 in 34 balls, 7x4, 3x6) and captain Rishabh Pant (35-ball 51 not out) helped their team post 172-5 in their 20 overs.