PIX: Super Kings outshine SunRisers to revive fortunes

Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and SunRisers Hyderabad, in Dubai.

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Chennai Super Kings got back to winning ways after two straight defeats, beating SunRisers Hyderabad by 20 runs in the Indian Premier League match, in Dubai, on Tuesday.

Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu laid the ground for the emphatic victory, only their third this season, with an 81-run stand, before excellent bowling by Karan Sharma (2-37) and Dwayne Bravo (2-27 off 3 overs) restricted David Warner’s SunRisers to 147 for 8, despite a gallant knock from Kane Williamson.

Skipper Dhoni used seven bowlers, and all executed their plans to perfection.

With 57 off 39 balls, Williamson was the top scorer for the SunRisers. He hit seven fours to keep his side in hunt but the steep required run-rate made it tough after the New Zealander departed.

SunRisers were dealt twin blows in the fourth over as opener David Warner (9) and Manish Pandey (4) were sent packing.

Jonny Bairstow (23 off 24) and Williamson did well to take them to 40 for two in the Powerplay overs.

But their problems grew when Ravindra Jadeja removed the dangerous Jonny Bairstow to leave the team struggling at 60 for three at the halfway stage.

With Priyam Garg (16) for company, Williamson kept the scoreboard ticking and Sunrisers needed 75 off 36 balls.

But disaster struck again as Garg was caught at deep midwicket by Jadeja off a Karn delivery in the 15th over.

Vijay Shankar(12) did not last long even as Williamson watched

With the pressure mounting, he had no option but to go for the big shot, resulting in him being caught at long-on.

Rashid Khan contributed with an eight-ball 14 in a lost cause.

Sam Curran (1/18), Jadeja (1/21) and Shardul Thakur (1/10) also contributed well with the ball, claiming a wicket each.

Earlier, Watson scored 42 off 38 balls, studded with one four and three maximums, while Rayudu's hit three boundaries and two sixes in his 34-ball 41-run knock.

Jadeja (25 not out) and Dhoni (21 off 13 balls) played quick cameos smashing a total of five fours and two sixes between them in a stand of 32 in just 2.4 overs as the Super Kings put up 167-6 after electing to bat.The SunRisers bowlers did a commendable job, claiming four wickets for 47 runs in the last six overs.

Sandeep Sharma (2/19), Khaleel Ahmed (2/45) and T Natarajan (2/41) picked two wickets apiece.

Desperate to snap their two-match losing streak, Chennai Super Kings elected to bat. The three-time champions sent young England all-rounder Curran instead of Watson to open the innings with Faf du Plessis.

Sharma drew first blood for the SunRisers, removing du Plessis at the start of the third over. The South African snapped one to Jonny Bairstow off the first ball he faced and was out for a golden duck.

Curran was off to a bright start, smashing Ahmed for the first boundary of the match in the second over. He continued his onslaught on the pacer by hitting him for two fours and as many sixes in the fourth over, quickly racing to 31 off 21-balls.

But Curran's time in the middle was brought to an end by Sharma, who went around the wicket to bowl a good length delivery which angled onto the leg stump.

Chennai Super Kings ended the powerplay at 44/2, with both openers back in the dugout.       

With pacer Sandeep accounting for both openers in the Powerplay, Watson and Rayudu stitched a valuable 81-run partnership.

The duo initially kept the scoreboard ticking with occasional boundaries on a dry but weary surface, but upped the ante in the 15th over, hitting Rashid Khan for a six each.

Ahmed broke the stand by getting rid of Rayudu, who was caught at long-off by skipper David Warner.

Watson soon followed, T Natarajan dismissing the Australian.