Chennai surge to the top of IPL

Kochi bow out of tournament after 11-run defeat.

CHENNAI:

Wriddhiman Saha scored a responsible 46 not out to set up a 11-run win for Chennai Super Kings against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The victory, Chennai’s seventh in a row at home, moved Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side to the top of the points table with nine wins from 13 outings. On the other hand, IPL debutants Kochi bowed out of the tournament after going down to their eighth defeat from 14 games in the Twenty20 competition.

Brad Hodge top-scored with an unbeaten 51 off 42 balls to keep Kochi in the hunt but lacked support from the other batsmen.

Chennai did not get the start they wanted after electing to bat, losing three quick wickets against some fine bowling by Rudra Pratap Singh. Mike Hussey, whose clean catch by Parthiv Patel off an attempted paddle sweep was turned down by umpire Rudi Koertzen, lifted the innings briefly with a 37-ball 32.

Saha, a surprise selection in India’s limited-overs squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, provided the late impetus to take the total past the 150-run mark.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2011.