IPL: 3 Memorable clashes between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings in Mohali

#2 Mike Hussey’s belligerent 116* makes the difference – 2008

This was the second game in the history of IPL and the debut game between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab. Chennai won the toss and elected to bat first on a batting paradise at Mohali. The team got off a fast start before Parthiv Patel was caught by the wicket-keeper Kumara Sangakkara of Brett Lee. Matthew Hayden was bowled off the bowling of Pathan for 25. M.S Dhoni didn’t last long as he was LBW off the bowling of James Hopes and CSK were in a spot of bother at 62-3 in 7.1 overs.

Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey added quick runs with Raina being the aggressor. He was dismissed for 32 off 13 balls of the bowling of rookie Wilkin Mota. Michael Hussey went on his merry way hammering the Punjab bowlers all over the park. He bought his 50 in 31balls and upped the ante post the half-century. He smashed the Punjab bowlers for 8 boundaries and 9 sixes in his whirl-winding innings of 116*of 54 balls. He was ably supported by Subramaniam Badrinath in the death overs, who scored a quickfire 31 off 14 balls to help Chennai post a monumental score of 240/5 in 20 overs.

In reply, Kings XI got off to a racy start, thanks to their openers Karan Goel and James Hopes as the pair smashed 56 for the first wicket before Manpreet Gony picked up Goel for 24. James Hopes and Kumara Sangakkara kept the chase alive by scoring a boundary an over. Just when things were starting to turn around, James Hopes offered a catch to Joginder Sharma at long-off in the bowling of Palani Amarnath. At this stage, Kings were 111-2 in 10.2 overs and required further 131 runs in 58 deliveries.

Yuvraj Singh struck 2 sixes before he was dismissed off the bowling of Joginder Sharma for 23. Muttiah Muralidaran bowled some tight overs, which resulted in Kumara Sangakkara being dismissed by his Sri Lankan teammate for 54 in 33 balls. At this juncture, Kings XI` Punjab were 4-190 needing further 51 runs in 14 balls. In the end, they reached 207/4 in the 20 overs handing a 33-run victory to Chennai Super Kings.

For his brutal innings of 116 off 54 balls, Michael Hussey was awarded Man of the Match.