46: CSK vs DC

It was a fairly tight game between the two time defending champions Chennai and Deccan, who are struggling at the bottom of the table this time round, ultimately the difference in class between the two sides came through. Deccan had come back into the game late into the Chennai first innings to give themselves a chance chasing 160 when more like 180 was on the cards. However, DC just simply don't possess the same depth in quality as Chennai do and 160 proved just out of reach for their comparatively inexperienced batting line-up.

Suresh Raina - 32 from 24 balls, 1-0-5-1 & MoM
A highly destructive stroke-maker in the 20/20 format as well as being a handy off-spinner for an over or two, the often forgotten part to his game, and both were on show today as Raina grabbed the MoM award. His runs came in quick time to inject some momentum in the CSK innings, hitting consecutive sixes with his signature pick up of a length delivery over the leg side in the 5th over and really putting Deccan on the back foot early on in the powerplay. However, what was probably his most important contribution was during his one over, brought on to get the wicket of the left handed Sangakarra, and he did just this. Sanga chipped a short ball back down the ground and Raina flew to his right to grab the ball with his weaker hand just inches from the ground. Just what Chennai were after as the partnership of White and Sangakarra could have been a match winning one for DC, the perfect impact from Raina, he just needs to start scoring some big runs.

Deccan death bowling - 6-0-42-3
Its difficult to pick out any one bowler in this period, but the last 6 overs of the innings was where Deccan managed to get back into the match with every chance of chasing the required 161. At the end of the 14th over, CSK were at 118/3 and with Dhoni and Morkel at the crease anything over the 170 mark was easily reachable. Deccan did brilliantly to get back into it through a combination of different bowlers. Steyn's two overs in this period cost just 11 runs, leading the way impeccably as he tends to do, for some of the lesser experienced domestic bowlers. Jhunjuhnwala's left arm spin earnt match figures of 3-0-13-1 which were exceptional against a batting line-up of CSK's calibre, including the wicket of Morkel before he got going and this dented Chennai's hopes of a grandstand finish. Reddy's medium pace has been impressive in the last few games as he appears to have good control of his variety of slower balls and changes in length. However, as has been the way all season for DC, it was a mistake in the field that just about cost them, possibly turning out to be the match winning moment for CSK. Bravo skied a simple catch to Ankit Sharma who put it down, seemingly a result of a mix-up with the keeper Patel. That ball cost 2 runs and Bravo hit the final 3 balls of the innings for 10 and with DC falling 10 short in the chase I'm sure they'll look back on this moment, along with many other dropped catches, and imagine what could have been.

Cameron White - 77 from 52 balls
All of a sudden the previously out of sorts Cameron White has become one of the tournament's most dangerous batsmen, collecting his 3rd score of 70+ in his last 4 attempts. The promotion to 3 has allowed him the time to play himself in before teeing off. His batting to spin bowling has been ferocious, hitting back down the ground and inside out over cover with the best of them. White was the key man in Deccan's chase, as there wasn't much after Christian at 6 (yet to see what Christian brings to Deccan's side by the way), and he was the only man keeping them in it after Dhawan fell for 36. Needing 47 from the final 3 overs the match looked to be Chennai's before White laid into the bowling of Jadeja, crashing a couple of big straight sixes and a four from the final ball to end up with 18 from it and a chance. He was run out in the 19th over, possibly a lazy piece of cricket on his behalf, and there was too much left to do for the rest but it was another terrific innings from a man who looks to have returned as a world class 20/20 batsman.

Albie Morkel - 13 from 9 balls & 3-0-16-1
The South African all-rounder has been a reliable performer with the ball for Chennai so far, having touched on the expensive side last year. He can generate some real pace with the new ball, as Parthiv Patel found out to his cost as he failed to get a decent stride in and ended up chopping onto his stumps, and should had more than one wicket having dropped an easy return catch from White's first ball. It didn't come off for him with the bat today, falling on 13 with plenty of overs left to do some damage, but he'll plenty more chances and his success is crucial to Chennai's fortunes.