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Badani propels Chennai Superstars

Principal Correspondent

Lusty hitting by Ian Harvey
Razzaq, Kemp scalp two each

HYDERABAD: A late onslaught by Hemang Badani propelled Chennai Superstars to a challenging 152 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs against Hyderabad Heroes in the Edelweiss 20s Challenge cricket championship at the floodlit Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Chennai Superstars was off to good start scoring 50 in the 6.4 overs thanks to some lusty hitting by Australian Ian Harvey whose belligerent 49 (6x4, 1x6) at one stage made the Hyderabad attack look mediocre.

Struggle

But once opener Ganapati Vignesh was brilliantly caught in the deep by Inder Sekhar Reddy off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, Chennai outfit struggled.

It could have been worse had Boje latched on to a difficult return chance off Harvey in the same over. For in the next over, Harvey whipped Chris Harris for a four over mid-on and then drove over long-off for a huge six. Just when he looked dangerous, left-arm spinner and local boy I. S. Reddy won an leg-before verdict against Harvey which was referred to the third umpire to the delight of the big crowd.

This was the phase when Boje bowled an impressive spell giving little freedom for the batsmen.

Things certainly looked gloomy for Superstars with the score reading 118 for three in 16 overs before Badani took charge. First, he drove Boje into the stands behind the sight screen, then slashed Justin Kemp for a four.

Later he picked Abdul Razzaq for special treatment with two stunning sixes — one an imperious pull and another over long-off and followed it up with a lucky four as his off-drive slipped through Stuart Binny’s hands at long-off to the fence. Just the momentum Chennai outfit badly needed in the slog overs even as Kemp picked up two wickets.

Thanks to Badani’s brilliant cameo (33, 18 balls, 2x4, 3x6), Chennai Superstars posted a competitive score on a pitch which saw the odd ball kick up from a good length.

Hyderabad Heroes was set a target of 153 in 20 overs at 7.6 runs per over.

The scores: Chennai Superstars 152 for seven in 20 overs (Ian Harvey 49, Hemang Badani 33 not out, Razzaq two for 28, Justin Kemp two for 32) vs Hyderabad Heroes.

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