Ranchi: David Warner pulverized a listless Chennai Super Kings attack into submission with some breathtaking strokeplay as Sunrisers Hyderabad won by six wickets to keep slim chances of qualifying for the IPL play-offs alive.
Courtesy Warner's 45-ball-90 and an equally effective unbeaten 64 off 49 balls from Shikhar Dhawan, Sunrisers crossed the mark with two balls to spare taking their points tally to 12 with a match still left.
However, if Rajasthan Royals win their next match and take their points tally to 16, Sunrisers' last game will be rendered inconsequential.
CSK, although have qualified for the play-offs have now encountered hat-trick of defeats losing on a trot to RCB, KKR and Sunrisers respectively. This is only fourth time in seven editions when CSK have lost three matches in a row.
Warner started by belting Mohit Sharma for couple of boundaries --- one on square of the wicket and the other was a straight hit.
In the next over, he hit Ashwin straight into the sightscreen and also got a boundary.
The final over of the Powerplay and second bowled by John Hastings opened the floodgates as Warner smacked him for five boundaries that enabled him to complete a half-century.
When Ravindra Jadeja was brought into the attack, he strayed down the leg-side which was tucked by Warner and then hit him for good measure over the deep mid-wicket fence.
Shikhar Dhawan batted sensibly as he dealt in singles giving bulk of the strike to Warner, who was on a rampage.
The 100 came up in 10 overs in which Warner had scored 80 and Dhawan's contribution was only 16.
Young left-arm spinner Pawan Negi was pretty nervous which was evident from the half-tracker that he bowled and was pulled by the Aussie opener over the square-leg boundary.
Dhawan also played a deft cut shot to get his first boundary.
Warner was finally played on with team's total on 116 with Hastings getting his revenge. He hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 45-ball knock.
