Chennai Super Kings fielding coach Steve Rixon recently commented that they are yet to nail down their batting positions this season. Despite this, it is amazing then that the 2-time champions are happily leading the standings with 7 wins in 9 matches.
Their score of a nicely rounded 200 today against the Kolkata is their highest of the tournament yet confirmation that after a sloppy start, MS Dhoni boys are quite the team to hit now.
Michael Hussy exceptional form this season continued making many wonder if he had erred by retiring from international cricket. The Aussie pro who will be 38 in a month has scores of 20, 86*, 6, 65*, 40, 88 and 45, and he backed them up with an innings of 95 today full of trademark front-foot swing to the leg-side and placement so fine, he would shame the best recruitment firms.
Hussey performances have rather masked the short-comings of Suresh Raina. The IPL top run-getter has been underwhelming this summer. Today, Raina got his act together, in part because Hussey and Wriddhiman Saha 103-run stand had set the stage for the No. 3 to express him freely. Raina did not disappoint, making 44 off 25 to keep the high run-rate rate up.
Chennai are the clear leaders at the moment while defending champions Kolkata are languishing in 7th place. It would take an extraordinary turn of events for Gambhir team to make the play-offs now.
Score Details
Chennai Super kings-200/3 (20)
M Hussey -95(59)
S Raina -44(25)
W Saha -39(23)
Kolkata Knight Riders-186/4(20)
Highest Score
M Bisla (†)-92(61)
E Morgan -32(22)
Highest Score
M Bisla (†)-92(61)
E Morgan -32(22)
Men of the Match-M.Hussey
