Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, M10 - Report: CLT20-2013

Chennai Super Kings skipper and local lad, MS Dhoni, set the JSCA International Cricket Stadium on fire as his team defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs in Match 10 of the Karbonn Smart CLT20 2013. Powered by Dhoni’s 63 – during which he smashed the fastest half-century in CLT20 history – CSK posted 202 batting first and then restricted the Sunrisers to 190 to register their second win in the competition. (Also Read: Suresh Raina Yearns No.3 Spot in Indian Line-Up: CLT20 2013)

After being put in to bat, CSK lost Murali Vijay to the second ball of the innings. But Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey wrested the initiative back in style, adding 45 runs over the next six overs. Raina opened his account with two crisp boundaries off Steyn, while Hussey got stuck into Ishant Sharma hitting him for two boundaries and a six. The partnership was separated when Hussey edged one from JP Duminy to the wicketkeeper; he made 23 from 21 balls.  (Also Read: Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, M10 - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013)

Raina and S Badrinath consolidated the innings further with a 70-run partnership. While Raina went hammer and tongs, Badri played complemented him by rotating the strike. The pair was separated when Badrinath too fell to Duminy. 

At 115/3 in the 15th over, CSK looked set for a total around 180. But Dhoni had other plans. The CSK skipper, who said at the toss that he felt a little pressure while playing in front of his home crowd, deposited the second delivery he faced into the stands, signaling the start of what would be a massacre. 

There were chants of “Dhoni, Dhoni” from the stands. And the skipper obliged. Balls disappeared thick and fast into the stands thereafter; Thisara Perera, in particular, came in for some special treatment. The 18th over of the innings turned out to be an eventful over; Dhoni tore into the Sri Lankan and hit him for five sixes – each one bigger than the earlier one – as CSK plundered 34 runs from the over.

Raina, who played what would be termed a sensational innings in its own right, was dismissed for 84 when he holed out to long-on. Dhoni brought up his half-century off 16 balls. The CSK skipper continued to make merry as he collected two more sixes in the final over to finish unbeaten on 63; the sensational bit was that those runs were scored off a mere 19 deliveries.

For SRH, Dale Steyn finished with two for 23 from his four overs, while JP Duminy’s four overs – during which he picked up two wickets – cost him 27.

Unfazed by the steep target, the Sunrisers openers, Parthiv Patel (37) and Shikhar Dhawan (48), came out positively and took the fight to the opposition. SRH raced to 50 in just 5.2 overs. The pair added 88 runs before they were separated. Just when the tension started to build in the CSK ranks, Raina produced a moment of brilliance; he ran from his follow through and scored a direct hit at the non-striker’s end – despite having just one stump to aim at – to catch Patel short of his ground.

That was the opening that CSK were looking for. Duminy fell for a third-ball duck, while Dhawan was dismissed in the 11th over for a briskly-compiled 48. And when Dwayne Bravo dismissed the dangerous Thisara Perera in the 14th over, the rest of the run-chase was going to be a formality.

Despite a late surge from Darren Sammy, who scored 50 from 25 balls, the Sunrisers Hyderabad finished their 20 overs at 190/7.

For the Chennai Super Kings, Dwayne Bravo (2/29) was yet again the pick of the bowlers, while Jason Holder finished with figures of two for 40. Ashwin (1/32) accounted for the dangerous Dhawan. Raina was the other wicket-taker for CSK.

Trivia: The break-up of MS Dhoni’s 19-ball knock: 1 dot ball, 7 singles, 2 twos, 1 four and 8 sixes.

CSK raced from 150 to 200 in a matter of 15 deliveries.

The partnership between Raina and Dhoni – worth 60 runs – came off 25 balls. Dhoni dominated the association, contributing 43 off 13 balls, while Raina chipped in with 13 from 12 balls.

The Sunrisers were ahead of the Chennai Super Kings after 17 overs of the run-chase. CSK were 141/3 at that stage, while SRH were 156/5.

Man of the Match: Suresh Raina for his all-round performance.

Dwayne Bravo: It was important that we used variations while bowling. It was a good wicket so we had to be smart with where to bowl, I tried not to be too predictable. Bowling full in these conditions is not the right way to go, we tried to use the skills and it wasn't easy to bowl. I watched and learned while they were bowling and made sure we didn't make the mistakes. It's a very good to be a part of this team and always a pleasure to watch Dhoni bat. I have a part to play in the team and along with manamgent, captain I'm happy that it's a good move by the CSK management.

Shikhar Dhawan: The way Parthiv and I were batting, we gave a good start but we lost three wickets quickly which changed the match. We thought 170-180 was a par score but Dhoni bhai played an amazing knock. Yorkers didn't work and you needed to bowl variation here. I'm enjoying my batting and I've been in good form so I'm enjoying it. It was a good challenge under pressure but I want to win more games. We've got a very strong side, all the players are good fighters and we can trouble any team. The positive from this match was that we lost by only 15 runs and we have to stay positive.

MS Dhoni: The wicket was very good as the game progressed. There was more dew on the field later on and the ball was coming on nicely. It was difficult for the fast bowlers to execute and it worked well for those who used variations. We got off to a good start and it was important to build on that. 180+ was easily chased here so considering that the platform we got from Badri and Raina, I looked to hit and it worked. I think the credit goes to the wicket. As u see these days, boundaries are not very big in T20s. It was very entertaining for the people of Ranchi and the support for CSK has been great. Out last game is here and I expect more people to come. Our bowlers bowled well but I feel there were situations where we could have closed the overs well, say after giving a boundary in the first few balls of the over. It's important to bowl dot balls, the side batting second can rotate freely and even if required run rate is 11-12 per over, but with dew around, it is chaseable.

Suresh Raina is the Man of the Match: I had a very good session with Flem earlier. I couldn't finish off the first game and today i did it. MS batted very well and Jason bowled in the right areas. I've worked very hard with Duncan in the last six months and he's been telling me to play with a clear mind. The tour of South Africa worked very well for me, Shikhar and the ones who bowled very well. I hope to continue to perform like this. It's always good to bat at No. 3 then u have 18-19 overs to play. To Shikhar and Parthiv, I looked to ball to the stumps and Parthiv was looking to sweep so I went for the stumps. MS batted very well and Sammy also batted really well. Jason has been working very hard, there's a lot of cricket coming up so we'll look to win more matches.

source: clt20.com