Kane Williamson’s fighting half century went in vain as Chennai Super Kings defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 20 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, CSK sprung in a surprise at the top by sending in all-rounder Sam Curran to open with Faf du Plessis for the first time.
The move paid off, as the southpaw gave CSK a fantastic start in the powerplay by scoring a quickfire 31 with the help of three fours and two sixes.
Sandeep Sharma removed the inform Du Plessis who edged a delivery to wicket keeper Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck, and then cleaned up Curran with a beauty of a delivery, as Super Kings were reduced to 35/2.
The pair of Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu anchored the innings with a 81 run stand for the third wicket, before Khaleel Ahmed broke the stand by dismissing the latter for 42.
Watson followed him six balls later, as Sunrisers bowlers pegged them back for a while.
Skipper MS Dhoni along with Ravindra Jadeja scored respective cameos down the order,to take Chennai to a fighting score of 167/6.
Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed and T Natarajan claimed 2 wickets each.
Chasing 168, Sunrisers suffered an early blow in the chase, when skipper Warner was removed by Sam Curran in the fourth over. Three balls later, Manish Pandey was run-out by a fabulous direct hit from Dwayne Bravo from the covers.
At the halfway stage, SRH were 60/3 with Kane Williamson and young Priyam Garg in the middle. The pair added 40 runs for the fourth wicket, before Garg was sent back by Karn Sharma for an 18-ball 16.
With 67 required off 30 balls, the well set Williamson was out in the middle and the New Zealand skipper reached his half-century off just 35 deliveries before he caught at long-on by Thakur, thereby dashing Sunrisers hope of an victory.
Rashid Khan and Shahbaz Nadeem provided some lusty hits in the end, but failed to get the team past the finishing line as Warner’s men fell short by 20 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja was declared the Man of the Match.