DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – Chennai Super Kings made light work of Central Districts, beating them by 57 runs to start their Champions League Twenty20 campaign positively yesterday.
Choosing to bat first at Kingsmead, Chennai whipped up 151 for four from their allotted 20 overs and then comfortably limited the New Zealand side to 94 all out off 18.1 overs.Chennai seemed to be ruing their decision to bat first when they slipped to five for two in the second over with dangerous Australian Matthew Hayden (0) and Suresh Raina (4) back in the pavilion.
When Murali Vijay fell for 19 at the start of the ninth over, Chennai were struggling at 40 for three.
Subramaniam Badrinath then slammed an unbeaten 52 not out and Srikkanth Anirudha, 42, in a 73-run, fourth wicket stand off 49 balls to rescue their side.
Albie Morkel’s 15-ball, unbeaten 26 then gave the innings a flourish at the end.
Central Districts struggled from the outset in their reply, crashing to 44 for six in the 11th over before Doug Bracewell (30) and Bevan Griggs (9) posted 38 off 35 balls for the seventh wicket.
