IPL- Indian Premier League: Super Kings defeat Deccan Chargers
CSK 165/5 20 overs DC 146/8 20 overs
Defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, maintained their impressive record at home, as they defeated 2009 Indian Premier League champions, Deccan Chargers, by 19 runs in a tie played at the Chepauk in Chennai.
A brutal assault by South African big hitter, Albie Morkel, towards the end of the Chennai innings was the catalyst in the convincing win for the hosts, who look every bit the champions that they are in the instant format of the game.
Batting first the hosts posted an impressive total of 165. Their effort was built around a solid contribution of 59 runs by Indian middle order batsman, Suresh Raina.
The score was propelled past the 150 runs mark by Morkel, who tore into Deccan’s last match hero, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566.
The tall Sharma was smashed for three consecutive sixes. The last two were the biggest in the tournament to date and left the crowd jumping in joy. Michael Hussey gave Chennai a fine start with a 41 ball 46 that was studded with 5 fours, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 chipped
in with 21 runs for the winners.
For Chargers, Pragyan Ojha, claimed 3 wickets, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harmeet-Singh-c1533 scalped one victim.
In reply the Chargers were on the charge from the word go, with the opening pair of Sunny Sohal and Dhawan taking on the host attack. Sohal in particular was all guns blazing. His charge took Deccan to a start of 71 runs in less than 7 overs. At this stage
it seemed that the match was heading in Charger’s direction.
However, the unpredictable nature of this format of the game was on display again as the visitors lost their way with a succession of wickets. Sohal was the first to go after a 30 ball 56 that included 4 towering sixes and 6 fours.
Kumar Sangakkara, Jean Paul Duminy, and, Cameron White, all disappointed their fans. The big trio, which was expected to guide the Chargers to the target, fell away towards the end of the innings, as the man with the Midas touch, MS Dhoni, once again proved
that he has the best temperament under pressure amongst modern captains.
His tactics ensured that the Chargers fall short of the target. Eventually the 19 runs margin was a comfortable one for Chennai. The man of the match award went to Albie Morkel, who took 3 wickets besides his astonishing tail-end assault on Ishant Sharma.
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