HYDERABAD, India, CMC – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo turned in a decent all-round effort but it was not enough to save Chennai Super Kings from a 22-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.
Chasing 193 for victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Chennai came up short with 170 for six off their 20 overs, to slip to their third defeat of the season.
They, however, lead the standings with 12 points, ahead of Rajasthan Royals also on 12 points, only on net run rate.
Sent in, Sunrisers tallied an impressive 192 for seven off their 20 overs, with Australian opener David Warner top-scoring with 61 off 28 deliveries.
Bravo, the West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago player, was outstanding in his four overs of medium pace, picking up three for 25.
In reply, CSK started poorly when they lost Brendon McCullum for 12 with the score on 14 before West Indies limited overs batsman Dwayne Smith helped to steady the innings with 21 from 19 balls, with three fours and a six.
The right-handed Smith perished in the sixth over as CSK slipped to 68 for three before Faf du Plessis (33) and captain MS Dhoni (20) put on 46 for the fourth wicket, to stabilise the innings.
When both fell in successive deliveries in the 14th over, Bravo arrived to stroke a 20-ball, unbeaten 25 with three fours but it was short of what was required to get CSK over the line.
