Champions League Cricket 2010 - Chennai Super Kings start their campaign with a win
Subramanium Badrinath guided Chennai Super Kings to an emphatic win in their opening match of the T20 Champions League. Chennai Super Kings, who won last season of IPL, defeated Central District by 57 runs at Durban. Despite losing wickets early in the innings, Chennai’s batsmen recovered to score 103 runs in last 10 overs which enabled Dhoni’s men to accumulate a total of 151. The fate of the game was decided when Central District’s batsmen failed to counter Chennai’s bowling unit. Balaji, Bollinger and Morkel all produced fine display as they restricted the Central District to a nominal score of 94.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-McClenaghan-c1975 for four in the 10th over. Unlike his team mates who were victims of short-pitched delivery, he handled it very well, repeatedly using it for his advantage.
On the other end, Anirudha kept the strike rotating as Badrinath kept on punishing Central District’s bowlers. Anirudha also handled bouncers very well as he converted them into half-volleys. He even scored a six off Mason in the 15th over. Central District’s persistence was finally awarded when they removed Anirudha after partnership of 73 runs. After removal of Anirudha, Morkel came to the wicket as he along with Badrinath ensured Chennai a strong finish. Badrinath ended Chennai’s innings with an unbeaten half-century. An upper-cut off Milne for four in the final over enabled hard-working batsman to score his first 50 of T20 Champions League. On the other hand, Central District was troubled from the start as its batsmen kept losing wickets on regular intervals which enabled Super Kings to record a comfortable win. Balaji took three wickets whereas Bollinger and Muralitharan took two apiece.
Badrinath was later awarded man-of-the-match for his unbeaten and crucial knock. He was praised by pundits for his ability to play bouncers in effective manner. Talking at the post-match conference, he said: “It's a shot that comes naturally to me. Not that I usually hit it for sixes but that upper cut is a shot I like to play. It was tough initially as the wicket had a spongy bounce and they had come with a plan. I tried to play safe for a while and once I got comfortable out there I decided to play that shot.”
It was a treat to watch Badrinath to bat on wicket which offered so much assistance to bowlers. Even his team-mates failed to make any impact against Central District’s bowlers. He even won praise from opposition’s captain who praised his technique and effort. Central District’s captain Jamie How said, “He [Badrinath] played really well. I am happy with my bowler's performance. It's the batting that let us down.” Dhoni who missed this match due to flu is expected to achieve full fitness before Chennai’s next outing. His return will give further boost to Chennai’s chances in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
Tags: