IPL: Chennai Super Kings end Sunrisers' home run with emphatic victory

HYDERABAD: The Sunrisers Hyderabad's attack, which had bamboozled visiting sides on five previous occasions and had converted the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium into a fortress, came apart on Wednesday night as the batting might of the Chennai Super Kings was felt in full measure. Mauled by the Mumbai Indians in their previous game, the Super Kings were in no mood to show any mercy to the Sunrisers bowlers, who for once, failed to rise to the challenge. Led by the enterprising Suresh Raina and the evergreen Michael Hussey, the Super Kings posted the highest total - 223/3 - at the venue this season. Once the bowling was dealt a death blow, it was easy for the Super Kings to snuff out the hosts' reply. The chase was never on despite wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel beginning the innings on a rousing note when he cut pacer Mohit Sharma past point for a four. The run out of prolific Shikhar Dhawan (3) set the Sunrisers' back. As wickets fell at one end, it was left to Patel (44; 30b, 6x4, 1x6) and Karan Sharma (39 no; 33b, 3x4, 1x6) to give the over 29,000 fans something to cheer about. The hosts ended up with 146 for eight. For once the Hyderabad bowlers were unable to execute their game plan on the field and paid a heavy price as the Super Kings took a toll of the poor stuff dished out by the hosts. Barring Dale Steyn (4-1-17-0), none of the others were able to make much of an impression on the visiting batsmen. Ishant Sharma, in particular, was totally off-colour and conceded 65 runs in his four overs - 25 coming off his last over - and Darren Sammy gave away 33 in two overs. Hussey and Raina strung a 133-run partnership for the second wicket off 73 balls which knocked the wind out of the Sunrisers' sails. Hussey, who has regained the Orange cap, struck five fours and four sixes off 42 balls on way to his 67 - his 5th half-century in the tournament. Raina, who was dropped by Karan Sharma on 26, made batting look easy as he toyed with the listless attack. The southpaw missed out on a second century this season but his unbeaten 99 was worth its weight in gold.   Source: TOI