Chennai: S. Badrinath and M.S. Dhoni fed off each other’s frenzy to put on 91 runs in 64 balls for the fourth wicket, which helped Chennai Super Kings defeat Kings XI Punjab by 18 runs at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. L. Balaji added to some climactic drama, managing the IPL’s first hat-trick, to seal the win for Chennai.
Badrinath bought time initially with chanceless defence. Compelled to begin scoring, Badrinath began by taking two boundaries off S. Sreesanth — one over mid-wicket and the other over the bowler’s head. Suresh Raina took V.R.V. Singh on for a strike through the covers. The innings’ first six came when Badrinath made full use of a free hit.
Following Raina’s dismissal, Badrinath took Piyush Chawla on for his second six, which sailed over mid-wicket. M.S. Dhoni wasted little time in hitting Chawla for maximum over deep mid-wicket and sent the next one straight for another six. Chennai Super Kings brought up its 100 in 10.5 overs. Badrinath prospered in his captain’s company, giving himself room against James Hopes for a confident cut through point. The 50-run partnership between the two came in 33 balls.
The 27-year-old hit sixes with remarkable ease thereafter, dealing severely with Pathan. Yuvraj brought himself on in the 14th over, hoping for a change. Badrinath had other ideas. A merciless flat six over Yuvraj followed by a less spectacular single saw him reach fifty.
V.R.V. Singh was smashed straight and then through cover for boundaries. The running was commendable as well.
The Punjab bowling improved after the 15th over. Badrinath attempted to loft a V.R.V. Singh yorker but found Yuvraj. He had made 64 in 47 balls. Dhoni’s made an invaluable unbeaten 60 in 43 balls, making sure there wasn’t a lower-order collapse.
Chennai did well to stage a comeback after the openers had departed in quick succession.
Sreesanth’s mixed beginnings saw Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan power through the offside for two boundaries before an edge was smartly consumed by Mahela Jayawardene.
Stephen Fleming departed soon enough, driving at a length delivery that travelled to Karan Goel at cover off Sreesanth. Despite their exits, the partnership had set it up for the host.
Faced with a daunting task, Punjab needed to attack. James Hopes was taken by a delivery that was drifting down leg, which he helped reach Dhoni. Goel undercooked his upper-cut, and found third man off Gony. Shaun Marsh’s half-century offered hope. He was remorseless against P. Amarnath. A fullish delivery was clobbered over long-on and another travelled farther.
Marsh was equally punitive against Balaji and Muttiah Muralitharan, who he hit out of the ground. The execution was bereft of fuss. Balaji dismissed Ramnaresh Sarwan, uprooting the middle-stump with one that kept low. Marsh’s pull didn’t have enough beef and found Amarnath instead. Amarnath removed Yuvraj, whose cut met with failure.
Irfan Pathan entertained and threatened, but the target was beyond Punjab’s reach.
Balaji dismissed Pathan, Chawla and V.R.V. Singh for his hat-trick.
The scores: Chennai Super Kings: S. Vidyut c Jayawardene b Sreesanth 8, S. Fleming c Goel b Sreesanth 1, S. Raina c S. Marsh b Chawla 26, S. Badrinath c Yuvraj b V.R.V. Singh 64, M.S. Dhoni (not out) 60, A. Morkel (not out) 7, Extras (lb-4, w-10, nb-1) 15. Total (for four in 20 overs) 181.
Kings XI Punjab: S. Marsh c Amarnath b Balaji 58, J. Hopes c Dhoni b Morkel 14, K. Goel c Morkel b Gony 1, R. Sarwan b Balaji 20, Yuvraj Singh c Fleming b Amarnath 2, M. Jayawardene c Vidyut b Muralitharan 8, I. Pathan c Raina b Balaji 40, P. Chawla c Kapugedera b Balaji 17, V.R.V Singh c Dhoni b Balaji 0, U. Kaul (not out) 0, S. Sreesanth (not out) 0, Extras (lb-1, w-2) 3.Total (for nine in 20 overs) 163.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-29, 3-95, 4-96, 5-97, 6-115, 7-163, 8-163, 9-163.
Chennai Super Kings bowling: Gony 4-0-38-1, Morkel 4-0-25-1, Amarnath 3-0-35-1, Kapugedera 1-0-8-0, Muralitharan 4-0-32-1, Balaji 4-0-24-5.
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