Press Trust of India
Chennai, April 11: Brendon McCullum smashed his second IPL century and in the process ensured a dominating 45-run victory for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M A Chidambaram stadium here Saturday.
CSK got off to a rollicking start as Dwaye Smith (27, 26b, 4×4, 1×6) and McCullum (100 n o, 56b, 7×4, 9×6) plundered 75 runs in the first seven overs. After the dismissal of Smith, the Kiwi skipper stitched a partnership of 60 runs with Suresh Raina. Coming in to bat at no. 4, skipper MS Dhoni (53, 29b, 4×4, 4×6) went hammer and tongs after the opposition bowling adding 63 runs for the third wicket with the New Zealander.
Batting on 89 at the start of the final over, McCullum saw Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja (0) being dismissed off successive balls before scooping Trent Boult for a six and a four over the keeper’s head. He reached his ton on the last ball of the innings by jabbing a full length delivery to cover and took the team total to 209 for the loss of four wickets.
SRH pace spearhead Dale Steyn missed out on the match and all the other bowlers were hit for plenty by the marauding CSK batsmen. Kane Williamson and Trent Boult made IPL debuts.
Chasing a stiff target, SRH were off to a sedate start with openers David Warner (53, 42b, 1×4, 3×6) and Shikhar Dhawan (26, 18b, 5×4) putting on 30 runs in the first four overs before the Indian was sent back by Mohit Sharma (2/36).
Warner was the lone warrior for SRH as the other batsmen failed to get the scoreboard ticking against a disciplined CSK bowling line-up. Dwayne Bravo (2/25) was at his miserly best as he held back the SRH batsmen restricting them to 164 for the loss of six wickets. Kane Williamson (26 n o, 18b, 1×4, 1×6) was surprisingly sent at no. 6 and he was unable to take his team close to the target.
Brief scores:
CSK 209 for four (Brendon McCullum 100 n o, MS Dhoni 53) beat SRH 164 for six (David Warner 53; Dwayne Bravo 2/25, Mohit Sharma 2/36) by 45 runs.
