Dwayne Bravo consistently bowled in the block hole in a tense finish as Chennai Super Kings prevailed over Sunrisers Hyderabad by four runs to consolidate their position at the top of the Indian Premier League table yesterday.
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, playing for Hyderabad, bowled relatively economically in Chennai's 182 for three, finishing with none for 32 in his four overs. He also hit a 19-ball 24 with two fours and a six batting at number five.
Shakib's first three overs went for just 18 but Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu took 14 runs off his last over. It was Shakib's second wicketless match on the trot, meaning that he remains stranded on 299 T20 wickets.
Needing 33 runs in the last two overs, Yusuf Pathan and Rashid Khan blasted a six each off Shardul Thakur in the penultimate over.
Hyderabad, requiring 19 off the last over, the composed Bravo was hit for six and a four by Rashid to bring the equation to six off one, but Rashid could only manage a single off another yorker.
SCORES IN BRIEF
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: 182 for 3 in 20 overs (Raina 53 not out, Rayudu 79, Dhoni 25 not out; Kumar 1-22)
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: 178 for 6 in 20 overs (Williamson 84, Shakib 24, Pathan 45, Rashid 17 not out; Chahar 3-15)
Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 4 runs.
