Chennai Super Kings continued their domination defeating Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Michael Hussey set up the match for CSK with a heroic 95 that saw CSK post a massive 200, a total that proved 14-runs too many for KKR. Chasing 201, KKR got off to a flier scoring 18 runs off the first over bowled by Dirk Nannes. Gautam Gambhir (14) hit Chris Morris for two boundaries, before the bowler came back strong to castle his leg stump.
Manvinder Bisla looked in ominous mood smashing Morris for four boundaries in the fifth over. Mohit Sharma had Brendon McCullum (6) play on to his stump to give CSK their second wicket. Jacques Kallis was given a reprieve when he was put down on 6 by Suresh Raina off Ravichandran Ashwin. Bisla launched Ashwin for a huge six as KKR were 85 for 2 from 10 overs, still needing 116 runs. Dwayne Bravo sent back Kallis (19) in the 13th over when the South African attempted to paddle one to fine leg, but gave the fielder stationed there a catch.
Bisla continued to keep KKR in the chase with consecutive boundaries off Ashwin. Needing 75 from 30 balls, Ashwin dropped Morgan, who then slammed Dirk Nannes for a six. Nannes' 18th over was take apart for 21 runs to keep KKR’s hopes alive. Hussey ran out Bisla (92) to leave KKR needing 19 from the final over. But Chris Morris bowled a brilliant last over – conceding only four runs. Earlier KKR won the toss, and surprisingly chose to field – surprising because the conditions were very trying. CSK started aggressively as Hussey dismissed Lakshmipathy Balaji for three boundaries in the third over.
Wriddhiman Saha joined in with two boundaries and a six off Mohammad Shami. Hussey continued the onslaught with consecutive boundaries off Sunil Narine. CSK took apart Kallis' first over for 18 runs as they raced to 67 for 0 from their power play overs. Hussey slammed Kallis over the mid-wicket fence in the 8th over as he brought up his fourth fifty of the tournament. Rajat Bhatia broke the century opening stand having Saha (39) caught in the deep by Eoin Morgan.
Raina continued from where Saha left off, hitting Narine for a six and a boundary in the 14th over. Hussey (95) bludgeoned Yusuf Pathan for a massive six before holing out, off Narine to fall five short of a century. MS Dhoni (18*) and Raina kept the run rate up with regular hits to the fence. Raina (44) was run out by Debabrata Das in the 19th over. MS Dhoni finished the innings in style as he dispatched the final delivery of the innings for a six. CSK eventually finished at 200 for 3. Man-of-the-Match: Michael Hussey Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 200 for 3 (Michael Hussey 95, Rajat Bhatia 1-31) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders 186 for 4 (Manvinder Bisla 92, Mohit Sharma 1-23) by 14 runs.
