Murali Vijay floors Royals by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Scorecard:	Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Player:	SK Raina, JH Kallis, M Vijay
Event:	Indian Premier League 2009/10

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DateLine: 31st March 2010

 

Murali Vijay was on song and his whirlwind knock (78 off 39 balls) ended Chennai Super King’s run of defeats. The hosts overcame Bangalore Royal Challangers by five wickets in the DLF IPL 3 on Wednesday night.

 

On a surface which afforded enough purchase for the spinners, both Muralitharan and Jakati stifled the opposition batsmen. Jakati (two for 17) removed the dangerous Uthappa and Virat Kohli as Bangalore couldn’t break free in the middle overs. Bangalore which was beefed up by the presence of Pietersen and Craig White could only muster 161 for four in 20 overs.

 

Pandey fell early while Uthappa blazed away to 21 off 13 balls even surviving a chance. Gony dropped a sitter but redeemed himself by getting rid of Uthappa when it looked like the batsman would make Chennai pay for the let off. Thushara was hard to get away and the spinners choked the flow of runs as. Kallis and Kohli figured in a 63 run stand which by T20 standards was a bit slow. Both of them fell in quick succession and it was left to Pietersen and White to give impetus to the innings. The two added 44 runs in quick time to lent respectability to the total.

 

Vijay was in a hurry. After a quiet over from Steyn, Vijay exploded and Praveen Kumar bore the brunt of his fury. The medium pacer’s second over went for 24 runs as Vijay helped himself to three sixes. Kumble brought himself on in the third over and immediately gained respect from the batsmen. Kumble foxed Hayden with a googly and had him stumped. But Vijay blazed away at the other end and it was his impetuosity which cost him a century as after striking Pietersen for two sixes, Vijay tried to repeat the stroke and holed out. Suresh Raina kept up the pressure by stealing singles and striking the odd boundaries while Dhoni was circumspect. Chennai was in command and some artificial excitement was induced into the game when the homeside lost some quick wickets.

 

Steyn came back to remove Dhoni with a short ball and Kallis bowled Morkel with a slow delivery. Chennai needed 16 off two overs. Vinay Kumar, who bowled the penultimate over, dismissed Badrinath. But Raina settled the issue by whacking a six and a four off Vinay Kumar and the hosts won with one over to spare.