IPL: Chennai canter to win against Hyderabad (Roundup)

Hyderabad, May 8 (IANS):

Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey carried Chennai Super Kings to a 77-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League here Wednesday.

Suresh Raina (99 runs off 52 balls) and Mike Hussey (67 off 42) made full use of good batting conditions, powering Chennai 223 for three, the highest T20 total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Hyderabad never looked like getting near the target and ended at 146 for eight for their first loss at home in IPL-6.

Chennai would be pleased with the result, considering they lost badly to Mumbai Indians Sunday. They still maintain their top spot in the team standings with 20 points from 13 games. Hyderabad remain fifth with 14 points from 12 matches.

Hyderabad lost their in-form Shikhar Dhawan and Kumar Sangakkara by the sixth over and could never recover from the bad start to the chase. It was all but over when they found themselves five down for 64.

Earlier, there was no dull moment in the Chennai innings.

The surface, which had proved challenging for the batsmen earlier in the competition, turned into their paradise with Murali Vijay (29) and Hussey getting the visitors off to a flying start.

The run feast continued after Vijay’s departure, courtesy crisp hitting by Hussey and Raina.

The left-handed duo slammed 133 runs off 72 balls, ensuring the team poses a mammoth target.

Hussey’s knock was laced with five fours and four big ones. And when ‘Mr. Cricket’ got out, Raina went ballistic.

The Indian batsman blazing innings comprised 11 boundaries and a couple of sixes. In the end, he missed out on his second hundred of the tournament.