Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers, IPL, East London
Chennai Super Kings 178 for 3 (Hayden 43, Dhoni 58*) beat Deccan Chargers 100 (Smith 49, Jakati 4-22) by 78 runs
Chennai Super Kings soared to the top of the points table with their third consecutive win, beating Deccan Chargers by an overwhelming 78 runs at Buffalo Park. The game was effectively won when Deccan were reeling at 1 for 3 and the chase took a surreal turn when Dwayne Smith blazed a cameo to redress the imbalance. But when he departed, yet another procession followed as Shadab Jakati took his second consecutive four-wicket haul. MS Dhoni led from the front with an unbeaten fifty to set up the win and his form coincided with his team's sudden upswing.
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20 overs Chennai Super Kings 178 for 3 (Hayden 43, Dhoni 58*) v Deccan Chargers
MS Dhoni announced his return to form with an unbeaten 58 © AFP
Chennai Super Kings batted like a team on the upswing by posting a score of 178 for 3 on an unforgiving surface for bowlers at Buffalo Park. Matthew Hayden set the tone with a raw display of muscle power and the intimidation didn't cease when Suresh Raina hammered a cameo and MS Dhoni played the innings which marked a welcome return to form.
Deccan's openers set a fine example in the previous encounter between these sides and today, Chennai returned the favour. Hayden and M Vijay powered Chennai to a stand of 61 in just under seven overs thanks mostly to Hayden's assault which forced Adam Gilchrist to shuffle the bowlers early on.
Hayden's intention was the dent the bowlers' psyche and they didn't do themselves any favours by spraying it to too short, wide, or both. RP Singh came in for some harsh treatment in his second over when Hayden flat-batted him over cover before slashing over third man. It wasn't the most attractive display of batting though. Hayden chased a few deliveries while nailing his foot to the crease and a couple of attempted slogs found thin air. A scoop to short third man ended his innings but his quick 43 was enough to set the platform.
The lack of elegance was compensated for by Vijay who batted with finesse and fetched boundaries off crisply-timed offdrives. He was prepared to play a more backroom role and ensured Hayden had the bulk of the strike. Vijay went over the rope once with a clean front foot pull off Dwayne Smith but when he tried to take on T Suman, he holed out to long-off.
