Michael Hussey’s heroics ensure Chennai Super Kings nervy victory over Rajasthan Royals

Michael Hussey negated Shane Watson’s century for the Rajasthan Royals in the first innings as the Chennai Super Kings squeezed their way to a five-wicket win in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Michael Hussey hit 88 off 51 balls as Chennai chased down 186 © IANS (File Photo)

By Jaideep Vaidya

Chennai: Apr 22, 2013
 
Michael Hussey negated Shane Watson’s century for the Rajasthan Royals in the first innings as the Chennai Super Kings squeezed their way to a five-wicket win in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Doing so, Chennai knocked the Royal Challengers Bangalore off the top of the points table, while Rajasthan slipped to fourth position.
 
Watson would have thought the job was done after his 60-ball ton helped the Royals post a daunting target of 186 for Chennai. However, to underestimate the Hussmeister, as Danny Morrison has creatively named him, is a crime in this format.
 
The older of the Hussey brothers made proficient use of an insipid line bowled by the Rajasthan bowlers and notched his ninth half-century of the IPL in just 31 balls. The Royals erred by providing Hussey with ample short-pitched deliveries that were dispatched to the deep mid-wicket fence on most occasions.
 
To a batsman of Hussey’s caliber, more so with him being such a prolific puller and slogger, the margin for error is thinner than a needle. Still, the Royals were generous with their gifts to Hussey and the veteran Australian obliged and got the Chennai crowd’s voice back to booming levels.
 
Hussey lost his opening partner Murali Vijay (3) early, but was aided by Suresh Raina as the duo knocked off 90 runs in less than 10 overs to get the Super Kings going. Hussey was the first one to reach his fifty, before Raina followed suit, thereby becoming the highest scorer in all seasons of the tournament.
 
In the 13th over, Raina (51) shuffled across the crease and tried to scoop James Faulkner (three for 20) over fine leg, but was hit in line of off-stump and sent packing. Skipper MS Dhoni promoted himself up the order again and put on 42 for the third wicket, before the Royals got the big one.
 
Dhoni hit the ball towards point and set off for a quick single. Rajasthan captain Rahul Dravid, who had an otherwise horrific time in the field, got the direct hit with a stump to aim at, and sent Hussey back 12 runs short of what would have been the second century of the match and the tournament.
 
Ravindra Jadeja was bowled for a duck in the same over by Faulkner and all of a sudden, the visitors were in with an outside chance. Chennai needed 29 from the last three overs.

Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo ticked off 17 of those in the next 11 balls, before the Chennai skipper went for the big heave over long-on, only to find Stuart Binny’s hands at the rope. It was a superb catch by Binny, who had earlier starred in a cameo with the bat, and it was back to even-stevens.

With 11 to win from the last over, which was bowled by Watson, Chennai could get just a single from the first two balls. Bravo then caused an eruption in the MA Chidambaram Stadium as he powerfully cut Watson for a six over sweeper-cover. 

With four to win from two balls, Chennai weren’t going to lose it from here and got home off the last ball to notch their fifth win of the tournament in seven games.

Read first innings report here.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 185 for 4 in 20 overs (Shane Watson 101, Stuart Binny 36*; Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 20, Dwayne Bravo 2 for 36) lost to Chennai Super Kings 186 for 5 in 20 overs (Michael Hussey 88, Suresh Raina 51; James Faulkner 3 for 20) by 5 wickets.

Man of the Match: Michael Hussey

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