Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s hurricane 65 off 30 balls made the crucial difference as his Chennai Super Kings beat Bangalore Royal Challengers by 13 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. The home team could manage only 163 in reply to the Chennai team’s 178 for 5.
The Bangalore bowlers, led by Dale Steyn and Zaheer Khan, gave their team a good start by sending back both openers, Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel quite cheaply. All the Challengers bowlers made the batsmen struggle to push the scoring rate, and in spite of having seven wickets in hand, Chennai could score only 102 in 15 overs. But Dhoni and Mike Hussey then changed gear and scored 76 off the last five overs to put up a challenging score of 178. Steyn, who conceded only 8 runs in his first two overs, was taken to the cleaners by Dhoni in the final stage. The South African eventually finished with figures of 4-0-40-0. Hussey, perhaps inspired by Dhoni at the other end, indulged in some big hitting also to score 47. Dhoni’s innings, comprising three sixes and nine fours, came to an end when he was caught in the deep off Zaheer in the penultimate delivery of the final over. Zaheer also dismissed Hussey in the next ball to end the Chennai innings at 178 for 5.
The Challengers seemed to be cruising along towards victory when they were 102 for 1 at one stage. Interestingly, it was the most unlikely figure of Wasim Jaffer who was found hitting sixes and fours all around in his effort to accelerate the scoring rate. Jaffer and Ross Taylor added 89 for the second wicket before the former was dismissed for 50, scored off 33 balls including two sixes and five fours. But Taylor and newcomer Jacques Kallis batted fluently to maintain the momentum. Things changed dramatically, however, in the space of six balls when both had to return to the dugout. While Kallis made 14, Taylor scored 53 off 34 balls including three fours and three sixes. But none of the remaining batsmen who followed could stand up against the challenge and the Challengers were dismissed for 165. Skipper Rahul Dravid, who batted at number seven, was unlucky to be adjudged leg before wicket and was dismissed for his second successive first-ball duck in the competition. With this victory, Chennai maintained their unbeaten run wining all of their four matches. On the other hand, it was the Challengers’ third defeat in four outings.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 178 for 5 (Dhoni 65, Hussey 47; Zaheer 3-38). Bangalore Royal Challengers 165 (Taylor 53, Jaffer 50; Gony 3-34). Chennai Super Kings won by 13 runs.
The Bangalore bowlers, led by Dale Steyn and Zaheer Khan, gave their team a good start by sending back both openers, Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel quite cheaply. All the Challengers bowlers made the batsmen struggle to push the scoring rate, and in spite of having seven wickets in hand, Chennai could score only 102 in 15 overs. But Dhoni and Mike Hussey then changed gear and scored 76 off the last five overs to put up a challenging score of 178. Steyn, who conceded only 8 runs in his first two overs, was taken to the cleaners by Dhoni in the final stage. The South African eventually finished with figures of 4-0-40-0. Hussey, perhaps inspired by Dhoni at the other end, indulged in some big hitting also to score 47. Dhoni’s innings, comprising three sixes and nine fours, came to an end when he was caught in the deep off Zaheer in the penultimate delivery of the final over. Zaheer also dismissed Hussey in the next ball to end the Chennai innings at 178 for 5.
The Challengers seemed to be cruising along towards victory when they were 102 for 1 at one stage. Interestingly, it was the most unlikely figure of Wasim Jaffer who was found hitting sixes and fours all around in his effort to accelerate the scoring rate. Jaffer and Ross Taylor added 89 for the second wicket before the former was dismissed for 50, scored off 33 balls including two sixes and five fours. But Taylor and newcomer Jacques Kallis batted fluently to maintain the momentum. Things changed dramatically, however, in the space of six balls when both had to return to the dugout. While Kallis made 14, Taylor scored 53 off 34 balls including three fours and three sixes. But none of the remaining batsmen who followed could stand up against the challenge and the Challengers were dismissed for 165. Skipper Rahul Dravid, who batted at number seven, was unlucky to be adjudged leg before wicket and was dismissed for his second successive first-ball duck in the competition. With this victory, Chennai maintained their unbeaten run wining all of their four matches. On the other hand, it was the Challengers’ third defeat in four outings.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 178 for 5 (Dhoni 65, Hussey 47; Zaheer 3-38). Bangalore Royal Challengers 165 (Taylor 53, Jaffer 50; Gony 3-34). Chennai Super Kings won by 13 runs.
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