CHENNAI: Shane Watson powered Chennai Super Kings to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League here last night.
Chennai have returned to the top of the table with eight wins from 11 games while Hyderabad remained at fourth position with five wins from 10 games.
Watson’s innings studded with nine fours and half a dozen of sixes ensured that CSK have reached the cut-off limit of 16 points needed for the play-off even though they would like to finish in the top two.
A 77-run stand between Watson and Suresh Raina (38) created the platform and the former Australia all-rounder singlehandedly decimated the Sunrisers attack.
Earlier, Manish Pandey was back in his element as his unbeaten 83 off 49 balls powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a fighting 175 for 3 after being put into bat.
Pandey and league’s current leading run-scorer David Warner (57 off 45 balls) added 115 runs for the second wicket to lay the foundation for a decent score on what was the best batting track on offer at the Chepauk.
BRIEF SCORES: Chennai Super Kings 176 for 4 (Watson 96, Raina 38) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 175 for 3 (Pandey 83*, Warner 57, Harbhajan 2-39) by six wickets
TODAY’S FIXTURE: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab (Bangalore, 5.30pm)