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IPL 2015 Qualifier 2: Mike Hussey satisfied to contribute

Prior to the chase, Hussey was electric on the field, showing the brilliant display of his field work.

Mike Hussey played a match-winning knock of 56 from 46 deliveries © IANS
Mike Hussey played a match-winning knock of 56 from 46 deliveries © IANS

As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) once again made it to another final in the 2015 Indian Premier League (IPL) by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by three wickets, it was Mr. Cricket, Mike Hussey, who contributed in one of the important games for CSK and himself as well. Scorecard: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Hussey played a healthy knock of 56 from 46 deliveries, helping CSK bounce back from a tough scenario of 61 for the loss of three wickets in 10 overs, while chasing a target of 140. It was the pair of Hussey and skipper, MS Dhoni who steered the ship to a comfortable three wicket win to enter their sixth IPL final. IPL 2015 Highest run-scorer: List of best batsmen in IPL 8

Prior to the chase, Hussey was electric on the field, showing the brilliant display of his field work with stunning fielding efforts. he also took a stunning catch to dismiss Mandeep Singh, as he spoke more about his performance in an interview with iplt20.com. Scorecard: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

“It is very satisfying to contribute in such an important game. And it is even more amazing to get to yet another final. The history of this team has been really phenomenal but it will be really nice to finish it off on Sunday,” he said. IPL 2015 Highest wicket-taker: List of best bowlers in IPL 8

“It was difficult out there, no question about it. We needed someone to bat through the overs and take the team as close as possible. MS (Dhoni) and I were telling each other, ‘We are finding it difficult and it is going to be twice as difficult for the new batsman coming in. So we should just try to stay in and take it as deep as we can’. Unfortunately we both didn’t make it till the end but we took it pretty close,” he added. IPL 2015 Most 6s and 4s: List of most dangerous batsmen in IPL 8

On being asked about the gameplan along with Dhoni during the chase, he said, “It was just about making sure we built a partnership and try to be really busy. It was a difficult wicket to hit on; we had to run really hard between the wickets, constantly look for ones and twos and get the odd boundary away. It wasn’t a big total to chase, so we knew if we just kept the positive intent going and take it close, a couple of big ones in the end would get us home.” IPL 2015 most dismissals by wicketkeeper: List of best wicketkeeper in IPL 8

He also spoke about playing the big shots and finishing the game by saying, “Well, I didn’t finish it. I wanted to be there till the end but we still needed about 30-odd runs when I got out. As for me being more aggressive than MS, as I said, it was difficult for a new batsman to come in and start hitting. After he had invested 20-odd balls in the middle he knew what was going on.” IPL 2015 Leading fielders: List of Best fielders in IPL 8

Speaking about the stunning catch, he said, “You don’t have much time to think, really. I didn’t know if it would carry, so I just thought I will try and get there and get my body behind the ball. Thankfully it carried deeper than I thought it would. It was a crucial wicket. Mandeep is an important player and he has been batting really well. So, I was really thankful that it stuck.”

On being asked about the ground at Ranchi and the kind of support the team gets owing to being the homeground of Dhoni, he said, “We get great support here. It is MS’s home and for us it is home away from home. It is a wonderful stadium – it is amazing to have a stadium like this in a city like Ranchi. I have actually played here a few times and I have really enjoyed the experience. It is a fantastic place to play.”

He also reflected back about the loss to Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 1. “We were really disappointed, no question about that. It was a great opportunity to go straight to the final. The most important thing for us was to not dwell on it too much. We had to pick ourselves up really quickly and come here with a really positive mindset without carrying any baggage from that loss. It wasn’t easy – I certainly was grumpy. But it was important to stay positive and tight as a team,” he said.

He concluded by speaking about the final as he prepared to take down his former team, “It is going to be a great match. I am hoping it sort of works out like 2013 where we beat Mumbai Indians in the first Qualifier to go straight to the final and then lost to them in the final. This time we lost to them in the qualifier and hopefully can turn the tables on them in the final. They are a great team and have been playing some really good cricket. So we are going to have to be at our best. We have to look to just start the game well and hopefully our confidence will grow from there.” Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015: Complete coverage

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