Hussey denies Watson
23 April 2013 12:37 AM GMT
Mike Hussey played a gem of an innings to overshadow Shane Watson’s brilliant ton and help Chennai Super Kings eke out a five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in a thrilling IPL match on Monday. Chasing a stiff 186 for win, Hussey made short work of Rajasthan’s ordinary bowling attack and together with Suresh Raina (52 off 35) added 90 runs off just 61 balls for the second wicket to help Chennai overwhelm the target with a ball to spare.
After Murali Vijay’s early dismissal, Raina provided Hussey the perfect company from the other end. The duo not only kept Chennai in the hunt but also set it up for Dwayne Bravo (15 not out off 9) to finish off the chase.
If it was all Watson show in the first session, Hussey enthralled the crowds in the second half with his brilliant 51-ball 88. Hussey made his intentions clear from the start and in Raina’s company kept Chennai in the hunt.
Both Hussey and Raina were aggressive in their approach and sent the Rajasthan bowling attack for a leather hunt to help Chennai reach 92 runs at the halfway mark. Hussey scored his half century off just 31 balls with the help of seven boundaries and one hit over the fence, while Raina reached the landmark in 33 balls and hit four fours and two huge sixes in the process.
James Faulkner (3/20) broke the partnership when he trapped Raina in front of the wicket. Chennai were cruising along when Hussey and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were at the crease but two wickets in the 17th over completely changed the equation.
Earlier, Shane Watson scored the first century of IPL 6 to single-handedly power Royals to an imposing 185 for four. Watson entertained the crowd at the stadium with some brilliant strokeplay before finishing at 101 off just 61 deliveries. He decorated his innings with six fours and as many fours.
Towards the end, Stuart Binny played a 22-ball unbeaten 36-run cameo to further help Rajasthan’s cause. Except for Ravichandran Ashwin (2/20), all Chennai bowlers bled runs as Watson went hammer-and-tonks from the word go. Apart from Ashwin, Dwayne Bravo (2/36) also picked up two wickets for the hosts. Riding on Watson’s brilliant strokeplay, the Royals got off to a rollicking start after opting to bat.
Watson and Ajinkya Rahane (16), who played the second fiddle, shared 71 runs off 44 balls for the opening stand. Watson went ballistic from the onset and slaughtered the Chennai bowlers, except for Ashwin, with consummate ease.
Watson did not let go any scoring chance as he punished anything that was bowled full or short to him. He smacked Mohit Sharma for a six and a four to pick up 14 runs off the third over. Watson meted out the same treatment to Chris Morris and Ravindra Jadeja to score identical 16 runs of the fifth and seventh over. It was Ashwin who brought CSk back into the game with two quick strikes.
After Murali Vijay’s early dismissal, Raina provided Hussey the perfect company from the other end. The duo not only kept Chennai in the hunt but also set it up for Dwayne Bravo (15 not out off 9) to finish off the chase.
If it was all Watson show in the first session, Hussey enthralled the crowds in the second half with his brilliant 51-ball 88. Hussey made his intentions clear from the start and in Raina’s company kept Chennai in the hunt.
Both Hussey and Raina were aggressive in their approach and sent the Rajasthan bowling attack for a leather hunt to help Chennai reach 92 runs at the halfway mark. Hussey scored his half century off just 31 balls with the help of seven boundaries and one hit over the fence, while Raina reached the landmark in 33 balls and hit four fours and two huge sixes in the process.
James Faulkner (3/20) broke the partnership when he trapped Raina in front of the wicket. Chennai were cruising along when Hussey and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were at the crease but two wickets in the 17th over completely changed the equation.
Earlier, Shane Watson scored the first century of IPL 6 to single-handedly power Royals to an imposing 185 for four. Watson entertained the crowd at the stadium with some brilliant strokeplay before finishing at 101 off just 61 deliveries. He decorated his innings with six fours and as many fours.
Towards the end, Stuart Binny played a 22-ball unbeaten 36-run cameo to further help Rajasthan’s cause. Except for Ravichandran Ashwin (2/20), all Chennai bowlers bled runs as Watson went hammer-and-tonks from the word go. Apart from Ashwin, Dwayne Bravo (2/36) also picked up two wickets for the hosts. Riding on Watson’s brilliant strokeplay, the Royals got off to a rollicking start after opting to bat.
Watson and Ajinkya Rahane (16), who played the second fiddle, shared 71 runs off 44 balls for the opening stand. Watson went ballistic from the onset and slaughtered the Chennai bowlers, except for Ashwin, with consummate ease.
Watson did not let go any scoring chance as he punished anything that was bowled full or short to him. He smacked Mohit Sharma for a six and a four to pick up 14 runs off the third over. Watson meted out the same treatment to Chris Morris and Ravindra Jadeja to score identical 16 runs of the fifth and seventh over. It was Ashwin who brought CSk back into the game with two quick strikes.
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