Matthew Hayden stole the limelight at the Kotla on Friday.
The former Australia batting ace put the Delhi Daredevils bowlers to the sword in a breathtaking 43-ball show of 93 runs to power Chennai Super Kings to a thrilling five-wicket victory.
Chennai were in pursuit of a competitive 186 for victory, but Hayden, armed with his evolutionary Mongoose bat, made the task look easy as he toyed with the Delhi attack, hitting boundaries, and sixes, at will.
After Virender Sehwag's blazing 38-ball 74 for the Delhi side, the Australian left-hander held centre stage, slamming nine fours and seven sixes to lay a strong foundation for the Super Kings.
He called for the Mongoose bat in the fourth over, against Pradeep Sangwan, and once he came to grips with it, all hell broke loose at the Kotla.
He thrashed Tillakratne Dilshan for three sixes in his first over and hit a big six over the sightscreen as he brought up his half-century from just 23 balls in the eighth over.
He was unlucky not to get a century, as his lofted drive down the ground off Amit Mishra was neatly held by Dilshan.
He was involved in a crucial 78-run third-wicket partnership with stand-in skipper Suresh Raina, who scored an unbeaten 49.
Thus, it was not surprising that he left the field to standing ovation from the Delhi fans.
