CHENNAI, Apr 22:
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crushed Rajasthan Royals by five wickets, powered by opener Michael Hussey’s and a perky 51 by another left hander Suresh Raina to register their fifth win in seven matches in the Pepsi IPL T20 championship here tonight.
The last five overs remaining, the Super Kings chasing 185, were 140 for 2, 45 runs behind as the struggling Royals bowlers were hoping to pull off a miraculous win. But Hussey maintaining the momentum of his sparkling strokeplay, the Super Kings appeared to be coasting home
But the Royals were cock- a- hoop as Hussey fell run out by skipper Dravid for 85 off 51 balls with 13 fours and four sixes. Then the Super Kings were under pressure as off the fourth ball of the 17th over their night in shining armour left hander R Jadeja fll for a duck off two balls, bowled by Faulkner.
The home team were 157-4 off 17 overs, needing 28 runs off the last three overs, Dhoni and Bravo together.
But as the equation became 11 runs off the last seven balls, Dhoni fell to a brilliant running catch at deep mid wicket by Stewart Binny for 21 off 16 balls.In the last over by Watson Bravo(15 no.,one six) eased the pressure hitting a six and romped home with a single off the fifth ball to short mid wicket. The Super Kings won with a ball to spare.
The Chennai lions began chasing the fighting victory target of 185 on a disastrous note, losing opener M Vijay for three off four balls when the local star fell caught and bowled to Royals pacer A Chanela in the third over ittself.
But the Aussie left handed opener Mike Hussey in company with another south paw Suresh Raina to steer the team to safety to 60 for 1 after seven overs.
The Royals captain Dravid brought in all his bowling resources into play, as many as six but just one spinner in R Shukla, who was picked in place of pacer S Sreesanth. But Hussey racing to 35 off 21 balls with five fours and a six and Raina scoring 22 off 17 balls inclusive of two fours and a six, took them head on. Dravid was a worried man as his hope of upsetting the Super Kings in an unequal battle, as it appeared, appeared to be impossible. (UNI)
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