By Jharna Kukreja Chauhan, Yahoo! Cricket
Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina shared a 137-run partnership to steer the Chennai Super Kings to an easy win over the Rajasthan Royals on their home ground in Chepauk.
Mid-way through Rajasthan's innings, Chennai coach Stephen Fleming was asked what total he'd be happy with. Pat came the reply - "148". It was an unusually specific score and considering the way the Royals were batting at that time, highly unlikely. But his words worked like a prophecy. At the half way mark the Royals were 86 without loss. The Super Kings then came back into the match, picked up wickets, slowed down the run rate and restricted the Rajasthan side. The runs they had to chase to win - 148. Spooky!
The total was never good enough to put pressure on the home side. Rajasthan needed early wickets to remain in the game. Murali Vijay went back in just the second over after making a mess of a attempted sweep shot off Johan Botha. That was to be the only small blip in the otherwise seamless chase.
Suresh Raina joined Michael Hussey at the crease and there was no looking back. They picked runs off all the bowlers easily and the target never seemed beyond reach. Stuart Binny had a very forgettable day; first conceding eight extras through some silly misfielding and overthrows and then Hussey slammed consecutive boundaries off the only over he bowled. When 19 runs came off a Nayan Doshi over with both Hussey and Raina punishing him with sixes, the writing was on the wall. Both batsman matched each other shot for shot and completed their half centuries in the 13th over. Raina top edged a short ball from Siddharth Trivedi to depart with just 3 runs to go, but Hussey sealed the comprehensive win with a boundary off the very next ball. His 79 off 55 balls earned him the Man of the Match award.
Earlier, the Royals got off to a solid start aided a tad bit by Chennai's fielders. First R Ashwin let by four leg byes with a sloppy slide near the boundary and then Aniruda Srikkant dropped Shane Watson off Morkel when he was on nine. Scrappy - especially considering the standards they've set for themselves in the tournament. From there on, Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson took charge. Dravid in particular looked in supreme form, and didn't even hesitate to play a few lofted shots and reverse sweeps. His favourite shot for the day however was the pull over mid-wicket that he played for boundaries on demand.
Dravid raced to his half century, which came off just 37 deliveries. His knock off 66, studded with ten boundaries seemed to be just the launchpad Rajasthan needed for a big score. It wasn't to be. An amazing catch off his own bowling from Jakati broke the opening stand and sent back Watson for a well made 32. The wickets kept tumbling thereafter. Menaria, Botha and Rahane all departed cheaply. Ross Taylor tried hard to hit out but was sent back for 20. Albie Morkel, Ashwin and Bollinger were all successful in pulling it back for Chennai towards the death.
Chennai's fourth win on the trot moved them to 12 points and kept their record of not losing a game at home in IPL 4 intact.
Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina shared a 137-run partnership to steer the Chennai Super Kings to an easy win over the Rajasthan Royals on their home ground in Chepauk.
Mid-way through Rajasthan's innings, Chennai coach Stephen Fleming was asked what total he'd be happy with. Pat came the reply - "148". It was an unusually specific score and considering the way the Royals were batting at that time, highly unlikely. But his words worked like a prophecy. At the half way mark the Royals were 86 without loss. The Super Kings then came back into the match, picked up wickets, slowed down the run rate and restricted the Rajasthan side. The runs they had to chase to win - 148. Spooky!
The total was never good enough to put pressure on the home side. Rajasthan needed early wickets to remain in the game. Murali Vijay went back in just the second over after making a mess of a attempted sweep shot off Johan Botha. That was to be the only small blip in the otherwise seamless chase.
Earlier, the Royals got off to a solid start aided a tad bit by Chennai's fielders. First R Ashwin let by four leg byes with a sloppy slide near the boundary and then Aniruda Srikkant dropped Shane Watson off Morkel when he was on nine. Scrappy - especially considering the standards they've set for themselves in the tournament. From there on, Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson took charge. Dravid in particular looked in supreme form, and didn't even hesitate to play a few lofted shots and reverse sweeps. His favourite shot for the day however was the pull over mid-wicket that he played for boundaries on demand.
Dravid raced to his half century, which came off just 37 deliveries. His knock off 66, studded with ten boundaries seemed to be just the launchpad Rajasthan needed for a big score. It wasn't to be. An amazing catch off his own bowling from Jakati broke the opening stand and sent back Watson for a well made 32. The wickets kept tumbling thereafter. Menaria, Botha and Rahane all departed cheaply. Ross Taylor tried hard to hit out but was sent back for 20. Albie Morkel, Ashwin and Bollinger were all successful in pulling it back for Chennai towards the death.
Chennai's fourth win on the trot moved them to 12 points and kept their record of not losing a game at home in IPL 4 intact.
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