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A scintillating 67-run knock by MS Dhoni helped Chennai Super Kings chase down 160-run target in the final over and beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets in the IPL clash at the MAC stadium yesterday. |
With 15 required off last over, Dhoni held his nerve and finished the game in style.
After a terrific start, Chennai Super Kings lost three quick wickets to help Sunrisers Hyderabad bounce back while defending 159 in the IPL clash.
Amit Mishra, who earlier got rid of both openers, struck again in the 14th over to end Suresh Raina’s challenge, reducing hosts to 99 for 3.
Chennai got off to a flying start as Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay guided the side past 50 in just 5.2 overs.
Mishra, however, revived Sunrisers Hyderabad with his double-blow. Mishra first got Vijay (18) stumped break a brisk 65-run stand and then got Mike Hussey caught behind to reduce Chennai to 76/2.
Mishra didn’t allow Hussey to complete his half-century and grabbed him five short of the mark. Hussey’s 45 came off 26 balls and included five boundaries and two sixes.
Chennai got past 50 in just 5.2 overs after Hyderabad scored 159/6.
Playing his first match of the season, Shikhar Dhawan smashed his way to a scintillating 63 as Sunrisers Hyderabad recovered from early jolts to post a competitive total.
Hyderabad scored 59 runs in the last four overs and that propelled them to a fighting total. Ashish Reddy played a very useful unbeaten cameo of 36 and his 43-run partnership with Dhawan was crucial in their revival.
Dhawan’s unbeaten knock came off 45 balls with 10 shots to the fence while Reddy’s 36 came off 16 balls with two fours and three sixes. Dhawan was out of field for some time after taking a ferocious hit on his groin off Dwayne Bravo and in that time Reddy did a pretty good job for his side.
At one time, it looked that there would be no end to Hyderabad’s batting woes but inclusion of Dhawan, who missed the first seven matches due to a hand fracture, lifted the side.
More than the bowling it was their exceptional fielding that gave Chennai two early wickets. Vijay took a firmly-hit but uppish shot by Quinton de Kock (4) at mid-on off Mohit Sharma while Raina’s direct hit from covers area sent back Hanuma Vihari (2).
Much depended on Dhawan and the left-hander did not disappoint his side. He drove, pulled and cut effortlessly the Chennai pacers — Mohit and Holder.
Dhawan unleashed a few boundaries to give provide impetuous to his side’s innings but lost White (2) from the other end when his skipper edged one behind off Mohit.