Dhoni, Raina power Super Kings to victory

Cricinfo

Sports Page—Friday 27th September 2013– An ebullient finish from MS Dhoni that built on Suresh Raina’s consummate half-century set up a 12-run victory for Chennai Super Kings over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ranchi. Dhoni walloped eight sixes and a four, in a 19-ball maraud that brought him 63 not out, after Raina had hit 84 from 57. Dhoni’s bore down most heavily on Thisara Perera, from whose third over was pillaged for a tournament-high 34 runs, with only two of those coming from wides. Sunrisers threatened to chase down Super Kings’ 202 for 4 when their openers hit 86 from the first 9 overs, but they lost their way soon after, and were never able to get themselves ahead of the required run rate.

Dhoni’s intent was clear, almost as soon as he arrived at the crease, when he blasted the second ball he faced – a flighted offbreak from JP Duminy – back over the bowler’s head for six. He then cooled his heels for the next two overs, but with another straight six off a Perera half-volley in the 18th over, he engaged annihilation mode.

A hare-brained run out in the 10th over though, began the slide that effectively scuttled Sunrisers’ chances. Patel was still mid-pitch when Raina hit the stumps, to capitalize on the batsmen’s miscommunication, and inside two overs Dhawan and JP Duminy had also been dismissed.

Perera could not redeem himself with the bat, and though Sammy batted valiantly, striking a 25-ball 50, most of it after he made himself lame by clobbering a yorker onto his foot, he was always facing steep odds to pull off the heist.

Summarized scores: Chennai Super Kings 202 for 4 (Raina 84, Dhoni 63*) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 190 for 7 (Sammy 50, Dhawan 48) by 12 runs