Smith reaches 500 runs but Chennai lose thriller to Sunrisers

RANCHI, India, CMC – West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith missed out on another half-century but eclipsed the 500-run mark here yesterday, as his stellar season in the Indian Premier League continued.

He smashed a typically quick-fire 47 at the top of the order but it came in a losing effort as his Chennai Super Kings were out-gunned by the Darren Sammy-led Sunrisers Hyderabad in an exciting showdown at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.

Sent in, Chennai rattled up an imposing 185 for three from their 20 overs but then watched as Sunrisers overhauled the total to win by six wickets, with four balls left in the innings.

Smith set the tone for the innings, crashing four fours and four sixes off just 28 balls, adding 33 from 21 deliveries with South African Faf du Plessis (19).

The big-hitting Barbadian also dominated a 35-run stand for the second wicket with Suresh Raina (4), before falling lbw to leg-spinner Karn Sharma in the seventh over with the score on 68.

Smith now has 501 runs for the IPL campaign, joining Indian Robin Uthappa (572) and Australians Glenn Maxwell (533) and David Warner (524).

 

Captain MS Dhoni then slammed 57 not out from 41 balls and David Hussey, an unbeaten 50 from 33 balls, to climax the innings with a thrilling unbroken 107-run, fourth wicket partnership.

In reply, Sunrisers were handed a superb start by Warner who smashed 90 from 45 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. He put on an explosive 116 for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 64.

Warner was bowled by Australian fast bowler John Hastings in the 12th over but Dhawan and Naman Ojha (19) put on a further 52 for the second wicket to keep Sunrisers on course for a remarkable win.

With two runs required from the final over, Sammy fell without scoring trying to clear long on with a big hit and being caught inside the ropes.

Chennai are second on 16 points, two behind leaders Kings XI Punjab while Sunrisers are fifth on 12 points.