ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Dwayne Smith’s boundary-studded half century was in vain as Chennai Super Kings went down by six wickets to Kings XI Punjab on Good Friday here.
Opting to bat first at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, CSK piled up a daunting 205 for four off their 20 overs, with Smith stroking 66 off 43 balls.
The Barbados and West Indies right-hander counted six fours and three sixes, and posted 123 for the first wicket with New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who struck 67 off 45 balls with four fours and five sixes.
Smith, in his first season for CSK following his move from Mumbai Indians, batted well into the 17th over to provide stability to the innings, before mis-hitting seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji to George Bailey at cover to depart.
His efforts, however, were overshadowed by Glenn Maxwell who smashed 95 from 43 balls with 15 fours and two sixes, to lead a successful Kings XI run chase.
CSK were still in with chance when they reduced Kings XI to 52 for three in the sixth over but Maxwell combined with South African David Miller – whose unbeaten 54 came from 37 balls – in a 115-run, fourth wicket stand, to erase any notions of defeat.
