Super Kings pips Knight Riders, Hayden sparkles again

Chennai, Apr 26 (UNI) Chennai Super Kings trounced Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets in the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) match at M A Chidambaram Stadium here today.

The Super Kings were steered to a win again by Aussie opener Mathew Hayden who remained unbeaten on 70 off 49 balls, with six fours and three sixes, along with captain M S Dhoni who was not out on 43 off 27 balls, with three fours and two sixes. The unbeaten stand between Dhoni and Hayden was worth 86 runs off 58 balls.

Chasing an easy target of 148 in 20 overs, the Super Kings were helped along by the two South paws former India stumper Parthiv Patel and the in form Aussie Mathew Hayden who was the man of the match in the last game here.

The Riders hopes of forcing an early breakthrough from their strike bowler Ishant Sharma, the new pace sensation in team India, did not come off as he conceded eight runs in his first spell of two overs and Ashoke Dinda too failed to achieve it.

And as David Hussey came on to bowl spin at the pavilion end, Hayden hoisted him over long on and the Super Kings were 54 without any wicket in 6.4 overs, Patel on 19 and Hayden on 25.

Hayden raced to 33 off 23 balls with two sixes, both over long on. The Kings posted the best opening stand of 64 for in the IPL matches so far. They emulated the 61 run stand between Ganguly and McCullum at Kolkata.

But needing 82 from 71 balls, the Super Kings lost their first wicket when Parthiv Patel pulling medium pacer Ajit Agarkar was caught by Ishant Sharma on the fence for 21 off 27 balls, with three fours.

The wicket fell off in the second ball of the ninth over of the Kings innings.

Skipper M S Dhoni promoted himself up the order to keep the scoring momentum up.

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