CLT20: Suresh Raina powers Chennai Super Kings to big win

Suresh Raina

Bangalore, Sep 22 (IANS) Chennai Super Kings outbatted Dolphins for a 54-run victory, their first in the Oppo Champions League T20 tournament, here on Monday in a Group A match that witnessed as many as 25 sixes besides 35 boundaries.

Suresh Raina (90, 43b, 4x4, 8x6) and Brendon McCullum (49, 29b, 5x4, 3x6) set the trend for the night as the Super Kings, who had lost their opening Group A game to Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad last week, piled up 242 for six.

In reply, Dolphins, who won the toss and decided to bowl first, fought hard while responding to the herculean task bravely but lost wickets at regular intervals and were all out for 188 in their quota of 20 overs with seamer Mohit Sharma being the pick of bowlers, claiming four for 41.

For Dolphins skipper Morne van Wyk (17), it was another heart break after the last ball defeat to Perth Scorchers. He was ruled leg before to Ravichandran Ashwin by umpire Krishnaraj Srinath to a ball pitched outside the leg-stump just as he was looking to set a hectic pace.

Thereafter, Sharma's two wickets in as many overs, those of opener Cameron Delport (34, 9b, 5x4, 2x6) and Keshav Maharaj (8), tripped the Dolphins' chase that eventually lost steam as they collapsed in an untidy heap.

Dwayne Bravo sent back the dangerous duo of Cody Chetty (37) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (30), while Sharma came back to pick up two more wickets to complete the demolition job.

The only thing that the Dolphins got it right was the final over that Frylinck bowled and conceded just five runs, but, by then, far too much damage was done by the batting might of the Super Kings.

First up, it was the Kiwi blaster McCullum who set the tempo with some stunning hitting that Raina replicated and even bettered to put the Dolphins bowling to sword.

The pair put on 91 runs for the second wicket in a shade less than eight overs after the first over dismissal of Dwayne Smith (7).

The partnership took the game away from Dolphins who had no respite even after dismissing McCullum as Raina and Faf du Plessis (30, 19b, 3x4, 1x6) put on 65 off six overs before Ravindra Jadeja (40 not out, 14b, 3x4, 3x6) ensured a score of 242.

Brief scores:

Chennai Super Kings 242 for 6 in 20 overs (Brendon McCullum 49, Suresh Raina 90, Faf du Plessis 30, Ravindra Jadeja 40 not out, Robbie Frylinck 2 for 52) beat Dolphins 188 all out in 20 overs (Cameron Delport 34, Cody Chetty 37, Vaughn van Jaarsveld 30, Mohit Sharma 4 for 41, Dwaye Bravo 2 for 17, Ashish Nehra 2 for 42) by 88 runs.