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IPL PHOTOS: Warner, Dhawan star as Hyderabad stun Chennai
Riding on a superb 116-run opening stand between David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan, Sunrisers Hyderabad shocked Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in Ranchi on Thursday night.
Chasing a competitive 186, Warner and Dhawan were on target from the word go. While Warner perished in the 90s, Dhawan saw the team through with an unbeaten 64 from 49 balls.
Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and David Hussey propelled Chennai to more than a competitive score.
After a brilliant start, Chennai lost their way before the duo launched an onslaught on the Hyderabad bowlers.
Karn Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for Hyderabad with 2-19 from his four overs.
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Chennai off to a flier
After being invited to bat first, Chennai got the ideal start. The in-form Dwayne Smith started the proceedings for them, hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for three boundaries in the opening over.
Faf du Plessis, who opened in the absence of Brendon McCullum, repeated the feat, this time off Dale Steyn, as Chennai were off to a flier.
However, luck favoured Hyderabad when Karn Sharma’s brilliant fielding had Du Plessis walking back for 19.
Smith hit Sharma straight, but the leg-spinner managed to get his finger tips to the ball, knocking off the stump at the bowlers end, with Du Plessis way short.
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Sharma slows Chennai's progress
Smith then took advantage of young Parvez Rasool, smashing him for three consecutive sixes in his opening over.
He then dispatched Sharma into the stands, hitting a flat six over long-on.
The bowler had the last laugh though as he had Smith waling back after being adjudged LBW for a 28-ball 47.
Suresh Raina too didn’t last long as he gave a simple catch to Aaron Finch at the long-off boundary.
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Dhoni, Hussey rebuild Chennai
MS Dhoni and David Hussey then took the time in the middle, playing out the spinners.
The duo mainly dealt in singles and doubles, before launching an onslaught at the fag end of the innings.
Chennai got the momentum in an Irfan Pathan over, where Dhoni and Hussey made merry, plundering 17 runs, which included a six and two boundaries.
Pathan was at the receiving end once again as Hussey smashed twin sixes. The Australian reached his half-century with a single off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Dhoni then latched onto Dale Steyn, smashing him for two sixes and two boundaries, to change the complexion of the game.
Steyn leaked 24 runs from his final over as the duo put on an unbeaten 108 runs stand.
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Sunrisers off to an ideal start
Sunrisers Hyderabad were off to an ideal start in the chase. Warner was aggressive as he belted a couple of boundaries off Mohit Sharma.
Ashwin, who was introduced early, was dispatched for a massive six, followed by a boundary.
Warner continued to punish Mohit, slapping him for consecutive boundaries.
But it was John Hastings who bore Warner’s wrath as the Australian plundered five boundaries to make it 21 from the over.
Warner completed his half-century in the same over as Dhawan and Warner gave Surisers the ideal base.
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Hastings castles Warner in 90s
John Hasting did get his man as he had Warner dragging the ball back on to his stumps for 90.
Naman Ojha, who too is in good form, took little time to get off the mark.
He attacked left-arm spinner Pawan Negi by hitting him into the second tier of the stands.
Dhawan smashed Ravindra Jadeja for the same result.
Ojha perished playing one shot too may and was snapped by Suresh Raina.
Chennai did manage to reduce the margin of defeat, by picking up Aaron Finch and Darren Sammy, but by then the job was done.