Mike Hussey

Chennai Super Kings – the team of IPL 2010 – goes past the ragged Rajasthan Royals to post their fourth consecutive win of the season. It is amazing to see the confidence that Chennai gains when it plays at home. The winning streak at home is yet to be broken by a visiting team in this season of IPL. If one can match up the T20 cricket to be a total of 40 overs, RR won only the first 10 overs of the contest and lost the next 30! It is not often one would see a team after a fantastic start of being 86 for no loss in the first 10 overs score only 61 (for the loss of 6 wickets) in the next 10! Dravid showed his class and his ability to fight tough ordeals (hot weather and slow pitch) and made a fluent half century.

The best possible start was provided by the two contrasting openers (Dravid and Watson) but the lower order consisting of Taylor and Botha could not capitalize to post a score of 160! It is hard to believe the pattern of scoring of RR was reminiscent of the scoring adopted by DC when they took CSK on May 1. The openers gave a formidable start but the spinners choked the runs and gained wickets in the bargain. Jakati, not the greatest spinner in the team, had a poor start to this year’s IPL campaign, is now reaping the rewards and paying rich dividends to the confidence that MSD has kept on him! His catch of Watson was considered to be the turning point which swung the game in favour of CSK.

Chennai when it started to chase started poorly by losing Vijay but was helped by RR, thanks to the poor fielding and basic errors which resulted in shift of momentum and focus. Hussey, the ever reliable player, proved his mettle once again in tough conditions and played right through to help Chennai chase down a meager total. Hussey now has over 300 runs in the tournament just from 5 matches! Raina has come to his groove and he has now made the No 3 spot his own, after spending time in the middle. Bollinger, Albie and Jakati emerged as the bowling stars.

It’s all looking rosy for Chennai as it will take on KKR and RR at their home turf in the next few days. A win away from home will seal its place in the top 4. It’s a given now that CSK will make it to the play – offs but the position it takes in the top 4 will decide whether they play the qualifier game or the eliminator.

Tags: Basic Errors, Bowling Stars, Chennai Super Kings, Confident, CSK, Ragged, Rajasthan Royals, RR, Tough Ordeals