Johannesburg: Sydney Sixers relied on a superb all-round show from Moises Henriques and a couple of stunning catches as they beat Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs in their opening Champions League Twenty20 match on Sunday.
Henriques smashed five fours and three sixes towards the close of Sydney’s innings for his 23-ball unbeaten 49 to take his side to 185 for five after being sent into bat in the Group B match. He later took three wickets for 23 in his three overs to play the leading role in his side’s victory.
Chasing the big target, Chennai were on course till the 16th over as they needed 50 runs from the last four overs before the Sydney side effected two stunning catches to end their innings at 171 for nine.
Suresh Raina, who top-scored with an impressive 33-ball 57 that included eight fours and two sixes, fell in the 17th over to a stunning catch by Steven Smith who held onto a high ball just inches before the boundary ropes.
Captain MS Dhoni was out two balls later as his pull shot was held by Josh Hazlewood who dived forward to take a superb catch.
Chennai had two substantial partnership in their run chase – 61 for the second wicket between Faf du Plessis (43) and Michael Hussey (16) and then the 55-run stand for the fourth wicket between Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath (6).
Dhoni admitted that they gave away 15 runs too many, which ultimately proved to be decisive in the defeat.
“At the end of the first innings, we thought we gave away 15 too many. It happens in this format,” Dhoni said at the post match presentation ceremony.
The captain was all praise for Hussey, du Plessis and Raina, who tried their best to win it for the ‘Men in Yellow’.
“We batted really well. Hussey and Faf batted brilliantly up front. After that Suresh Raina was aggressive and calculated throughout. If myself and Raina didn’t get out, it would have been closer.”
Man-of-the-match Moises Henriques said that it became easy to hit the ball towards innings’ end.
“But they were right in it until the last couple of overs which shows how close this tournament will be.” (PTI)