Hyderabad: Going by ownership controls, it was an all-Chennai affair. After trading enough punches, big brother Chennai Super Kings got the better of Sunrisers Hyderabad with a four-run win eked out on the last ball on Sunday. They should thank Karn Sharma’s brilliant effort on the boundary that converted a certain six into a single as he leapt to throw the ball back into play before falling over the line midway through the hosts’ charge.
Batting first, Chennai overcame initial hiccups to make a robust 182 for 3 riding on brilliant knocks from hometown boy Ambati Rayudu who slammed nine boundaries and four sixes in his 37-ball 79 and Suresh Raina’s fine 54 that came off 43 balls and included five fours and two sixes. In reply, the hosts had slipped to 22 for 3 in the fifth over. The Sun had begun to set when captain Kane Williamson almost raised it single-handedly with an energetic 84 in 51 balls, five of which he spanked to the boundary and sent an equal number into the stands.
Williamson expressed caution for most part of his knock before caning the bowlers. He was severe on Karn, hitting the leg-spinner for three soaring sixes as he took 22 runs off the 15th over. The skipper put on a partnership of 49 for the fourth wicket with Shakib Al Hasan (24) to steady the innings before bursting through in the company of Yusuf Pathan (45, 27b, 1x4, 4x6) with whom he raised a rattling stand of 79 for the fifth wicket in 45 balls before falling for a brilliant catch by Ravindra Jadeja who ran in from long on and dived forward to pouch the ball at the end of the 18th over.
That was the beginning of the end for the hosts, though No.8 Rashid Khan hit some lusty blows to take the game to the last ball off which six were needed. Rashid’s heave fetched only in a single as bowler Dwayne Bravo broke into his trademark celebratory jig in the cheerful company of yellow shirts.
Earlier, Chennai recovered from a pathetic 27 for 1 at the end of Powerplay (six overs) and a poor 54 for 2 midway through the innings to finish strongly. They scored 128 runs and lost just one wicket in the second half of their essay — taking 62 off the last five overs.
The Super Kings got off to a sorry start with openers Shane Watson and Faf du Plesis struggling — both were back in the pavilion early, which brought Rayudu and Raina together. The two dabbed about to deal with the situation in calculated singles before launching the big shots.
It was only in the 12th over that the Chennai Express began to gain steam. Raina sent Rashid twice into the seats behind long-on. Chants of ‘C-S-K’ began to ring around the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium that was peppered with yellow and orange, colours of rival teams.
Rayudu then got into the act and went after Billy Stanlake in the 14th over, hitting the Australian quick for three fours and a six as the visitors took 19 runs off it. That also brought the 100 of the innings. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was cheered all the way to the crease by a boisterous crowd when he walked in to bat, rattled a quickfire 25 off 12 balls.
