The Hindu : Sport : Dhoni’s fireworks all the way

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Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
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Dhoni’s fireworks all the way

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Michael Hussey lends admirable support

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Solid knock: Chennai Super Kings’s Michael Hussey held the team’s innings together in the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Bangalore: Chennai Super Kings found its roar towards the end as skipper M.S. Dhoni’s fiery 65 helped the team post 178 for five in 20 overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the DLF-Indian Premier League match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday night.

Dhoni (65, 30b, 9x4, 3x6) walked in after Suresh Raina was run out and with the score reading 83 for three in 12 overs. The skipper, all fast steps and swinging arms, unhinged Dale Steyn, clubbing a few past long-on. He edged a few past the third man ropes but it was a night on which Dhoni could not be denied and he along with the industrious Michael Hussey (47) stitched a 95-run fourth-wicket partnership off just 47 deliveries to help the team overcome a sluggish start.

Dhoni was in his element in a Steyn over towards the end, as he hammered four fours and a six that creased Rahul Dravid’s forehead with worrylines. Hussey, meanwhile, besides the hurried singles, also joined the act to bolster the run-rate.

Earlier after Dhoni opted to bat, his openers had to contend with the zest and pace of South African speedster Dale Steyn, who extracted disconcerting lift and tied down Matthew Hayden. The burly Aussie then tried to break loose against Zaheer Khan and inner-edged onto his stumps.

Parthiv Patel, meanwhile, found his runs past fine-leg and even top-edged a hook off Praveen Kumar for six. However, he soon fished at Praveen straight to a diving Jacques Kallis at slip. At 42 for two, it was the turn of the next pair of southpaws — Hussey and Suresh Raina — to anchor, as well as accelerate, the innings.

Mix-up

Hussey flicked Zaheer fine and then had his heart in his mouth as his skier off Kallis, eluded a diving Dravid, running backwards from first slip. Raina, meanwhile, hoisted B. Akhil and Praveen high into the stands.

The 41-run third-wicket partnership however terminated with a mix-up as Raina was left stranded by Wasim Jaffer’s throw.

The Royal Challengers’ bowling and fielding did have a buzz, which was largely missing in the earlier games, but the Dhoni fireworks late in the night, dimmed the home side’s smiles.

The scores: Chennai Super Kings: Parthiv Patel c J. Kallis b Praveen Kumar 21, M. Hayden b Zaheer Khan 13, M. Hussey c R. Dravid b Zaheer 47, S. Raina (run out) 28, M.S. Dhoni c (sub) R. Vinay Kumar b Zaheer 65, J. Oram (not out) 0. Extras: (lb-1, w-3) 4. Total: (for five wickets in 20 overs) 178. Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-42, 3-83, 4-178, 5-178.

Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling: Steyn 4-0-40-0, Zaheer 4-0-38-3, Praveen 4-0-29-1, Kallis 4-0-36-0, B. Akhil 4-0-34-0.

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