Chennai cruise to victory against Hyderabad

Two-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cut past the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) arsenal like a hot knife through butter on Sunday night in Match 17 of Pepsi IPL 2014 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

CSK in their chase were placed on 146-5 of 19.3 overs for a deserving five-wicket wicket victory after they halted the spirited SRH advance at 145-5 (20 overs) earlier.

CSK had their moments of anxiety though, when they were reduced to 127-4 with 18 still required from the remaining 23 balls.

Despite the dominance, the winners left it till very late in the game to earn two table points, the final six runs coming off the first three balls of the final over.

The packed audience were treated to a display of power plus batting by the CSK openers, though on modest levels when compared to the feats of Kings XI Punjab’s Glenn Maxwell and David Miller who shell shocked Sharjah with their awesome displays last week.

Openers Dwayne Smith’s match winning 66 from 46 balls which included four 4s and five 6s and the dashing Brendon McCullum played their shots in typical text book style early on before they were separated at 85.

CSK raced to 71-0 from nine overs as McCullum then on 31 n.o. and Smith on 38 n.o. began to bulldoze into the Hyderabad fortress.

It was no blitzkrieg of any kind but steady sensible batting, studded with the timely fours and sixes that kept the momentum going even when the powerplays were not on. Tall leggie Karn Sharma provided the much need dose of encouragement for the SRH camp when he put the breaks on the 33-ball tenure of 40 by McCullum.

Smith helped himself to a great half century in 37 balls soon after his partner’s departure and pushed the score to 100-1 with 45 runs to get from 46 balls.

New batter Suresh Raina (14) at one down continued with the demolition work but was stopped as he tried to accelerate the rate.

Earlier, SRH mustered a laborious 145-5 from the quota in the first innings.

During the SRH outing, CSK, led by a fine spell of right arm fast medium stuff by Ben Hilfenhaus who had 2-34 off four overs and medium fast Mohit Sharma’s 2-27 from his quota of four overs, generally had their task made easier.

The SRH batsmen who made an impression on the steady bowling and tight fielding of CSK were opener Aaron Finch with a patient 45 from 44 balls; Lokesh Rahul (25 from 27); and all-rounders Daren Sammy (23 from 15) and Karn Sharma (17 off 7). ‘Mr Extras’ contributed 16 to the overall cause of the SRH men.

Finch was bowled by Mohit, while opening partner and captain Shikhar Dhawan (7) was held by Mihtun Manhas off Hilfenhaus.

David Warner, another prolific run getter who is struggling in the tournament went for a duck, trapped plumb in front by Hilfenhaus.

Keeper Rahul was snapped up by Ishwar Pandey off Dwayne Smith while the hardworking Venugopal Rao (13 off 15) was pocketed by Smith off Mohit’s steady range.

moni@khaleejtimes.com