Mohali, April 10 : In one of the most dominant wins of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) thrash Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 10-wickets here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Wednesday.
After losing their opening game against the Mumbai Indians Saturday, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side won their first match of the sixth edition of the IPL after Australian Hussey (86 not out) and Vijay (50 not out) struck an unbeaten opening wicket partnership of 139, chasing down the home side's total of 138 with 16 balls and all wickets to spare.
The CSK openers whipped the Punjab bowlers all over the stadium with three deliveries flying into the stands, much to the disappointment of the crowd, who had hoped for a consecutive win for KXIP.
Hussey's knock came in 54 balls which included 11 fours and two sixes and with a strike rate of 159.25. Vijay made a run-a-ball half-century which was studded by three boundaries and a six.
None of the home bowlers managed to break through the partnership and all but leg spinner Piyush Chawla went over more than six per over.
After put into bat, KXIP lost their openers -- Mandeep Singh (9) and Adam Gilchirist (9) -- cheaply but Michael's brother, David Hussey, and Gurkeerat Singh stabilised the innings with a 56-run fourth wicket partnership and were cruising until the 15th over when Hussey fell to offie Ravichandran Ashwin, leading to slide as the team collapsed from 106/3 to 138 all out in 19.5 overs.
West Indian Dwayne Bravo was the pick of the bowlers picking up three wickets for 27 runs in his quota of four overs. Pacer Dirk Nannes and Chris Morris took two apiece.
Michael Hussey's knock led him to being announced as the man of the match.
