CSK get on board with a 74-run win

In a format as unpredictable as T20s, it is difficult to call a winner before the game. No side can be referred to as clear favourites in a format that requires composure more than consistency, aggression more than ability. In whatever we have seen of IPL 2012, it has not fallen short on surprises, even if it did lack thrilling and closely fought encounters that are the hallmark of a great game of cricket. This hope of an upset was perhaps the only factor favouring the Chargers as they took on highly favoured Chennai Super Kings in their first game of this edition of the IPL.

Undoubtedly, Chennai started the game as favourites and were, on paper, much the stronger team. But even the most hard-core CSK fan wouldn’t have seen this 74-run rout coming. A tight game was the least expected from the Hyderabad team. If not a win, DC supporters would have at the very least expected their team to make Dhoni’s men fight till the end to get their points. But an early surrender was disappointing, not just for the supporters of the Hyderabad club, but also for the lovers of cricket, after another game which should have been a close one.

A 74-run victory over C. White & Co. meant that CSK grabbed its first points of IPL 5, and a game – as easy as they come – for their fans to relish after their rather humiliating defeat to Mumbai.  But what would please Dhoni and CSK the most is the performance of their new signing, Ravindra Jadeja. The player for whom they had a bidding war with the very team whose attack he demolished today. The highest scorer for Chennai today with 48 runs helping to set up a mammoth 194 run target, as well as claiming five wickets for 16 runs, figures that are not often seen in T20s. Two million well spent for the Super Kings.

The game started on a decent note for the Chargers, with Ankit Sharma picking up the wicket of Murali Vijay in the first over itself. At the other end, Dale Steyn seemed threatening as ever, beating the batsmen on many occasions. When Daniel Christian dismissed Raina in the sixth over, it looked to be another low score from CSK. Even 150 looked unlikely  But the next three overs saw Du Plessis hit sixes all over the place as he recovered the Chennai innings almost single handedly. A 39 run knock from 25 balls comprising of four sixes pushed the run rate up to a respectable 7.88 when the strategic time out was called. The there was no looking back for Dhoni’s men. Badrinath chipped in with 25 runs off 20 balls and despite Dhoni being sent back quickly by Dale Steyn, Ravindra Jadeja and then Dwayne Bravo boosted the total with some hard hitting. Bravo hit three sixes in the final over off M. Gony taking the team total to 193. A quick 43 off 18 balls for Bravo ensured the target was an extremely difficult one to reach for the Chargers.

The DC innings was the exact antithesis of Chennai’s. Harris starting their innings with a four of R Ashwin, and then scoring no run of the remaining five balls. A slow yet solid start for the Deccan Chargers in the first three overs, which could have been built upon had they not lost wickets at regular intervals. DC never seemed to have a chance in the game, with their wickets almost every other over. Nor could they maintain the required run rate which soared up to almost 12 when the time-out was called. With the wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel and stand-in skipper White’s dismissals at 20 and 23 respectively, any chances of a comeback, however unlikely, disappeared and the rest of the team soon followed them back to the pavilion. Jadeja managed to contribute with the ball as well picking up five wickets to be named the Man of the Match, as DC were bowled out for 119.

A comfortable outing, as it turned out, for Dhoni’s men who showed strength to bounce back after their loss to MI. Chargers, on the other hand, need to improve their performance drastically if they are to entertain any hopes of making it to the play-offs.

CSK: 193/6 in 20 overs,

DC: 119 of 17.1 overs

Man Of  the Match:  Jadeja-48(29) and 5/16

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