It was not riveting theatre but a good enough all-round display from holders Chennai Super Kings to collect two further points and move to the top of the table. Kochi Tuskers Kerala fell short by 11 runs while chasing 153 on a difficult strip. Wriddhiman Saha with a well compiled 46 and R.
Ashwin’s tight off-spin played decisive roles in the win.

Kochi, heavily dependent on Brendon McCullum and Brad Hodge, did not have a busy start. To hand Ashwin the new ball was a smart decision. The new ball gripping the surface and the natural bounce of Ashwin combined to make run gathering an arduous task.

In his first spell of three overs Ashwin gave only nine runs and also picked the wicket of Parthiv Patel in the bargain.

With a par score to defend, Chennai required to bat and field with good discipline and they managed to do that in good measure.

Y Gnaneswara Rao in an effort to boost the run rate holed out. Kochi’s fate, as it has been through the season, rested squarely on the Trans-Tasman pair. After a 38-run stand for the third wicket McCullum was flummoxed by Shadab Jakati.

M. Vijay’s over confidence and lethargy at deep mid-wicket were reasons for Hodge’s tenure to extend.

With the asking rate growing steep and Ravindra Jadeja dismissed the task was Herculean for Hodge who kept the hopes alive by scoring 19 runs off Dwayne Bravo’s in the penultimate over. Doug Bollinger’s accuracy in the final over saved them the

blushes.
To make first use of the track was the ideal option and Chennai did not hesitate. Suresh Raina briefly threatened to make the match his own, with the whiplash back-lift meeting the sphere at the exact moment the damage was maximum — 16 runs off three deliveries.

Sreesanth was guilty of providing length. The joy for Raina was short lived though as he failed to connect a high full toss well.

Murali Vijay flattered to deceive yet again. Three punishing hits against RP Singh, but the bowler had the last laugh breaching the defence with an in-slanter.

The innings never really got a move on, resembling an old scooter struck in wet sand. Mike Hussey a proven customer at pacing the innings was unable to raise the tempo when required.

Chennai have always managed to accelerate after the mid way point but tight bowling from Muttiah Muralitharan and Jadeja meant hard work for the batsmen. S. Badrinath was less on percentage before being held smartly by RP Singh off Brad Hodge at long-on. A while later Jadeja put an end to Hussey’s misery.

Saha struggled initially but hung in gamely to execute a few big hits later.

MS Dhoni was fluent from ball one but failed to last long. The 100 came up with only five overs left.

Fortunately for the hosts, Saha and Albie Morkel had reserved their best for this phase.

The big hits ensured 41 runs in the final five to take the final tally to 152 one that looked good to maintain the clean slate at home.


Credit: DC Chennai