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Chennai surge to the top

Johannesburg - The Chennai Super Kings went to the top of the IPL table with a 14-run win over the Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, reports the supersport.com website.

A commanding innings from man-of-the-match Michael Hussey set up a total of 200, but it took a fine closing over from Chris Morris to seal the deal for Chennai.

Manvinder Bisla could not be faulted in the run chase, scoring a career best 92 before being run out. Kolkata needed 19 off the final over, but Morris kept it full and straight and gave up just four singles as his yorkers prevented Eoin Morgan and Yusuf Pathan from making the big hits needed.

Full scorecard

Chasing 201 meant there was no time for the openers to play themselves in, but Dirk Nannes produced a bizarre opening over which went for 18. Six runs were on the board before a legitimate ball was bowled, as a wretched delivery down leg was followed by a no-ball.

The resulting free hit bowled Bisla, but insult was added to injury as the ball deflected off the stumps and beat wicket-keeper MS Dhoni for four byes.

Boundaries flowed from Gautam Gambhir before he played across the line after taking two boundaries off Morris's opening three balls, and Brendon McCullum played on to end the powerplay with the score on 63-2.

Jacques Kallis battled to get going, dropped on six by Suresh Raina and then Dhoni missed a stumping chance either side of a magnificent straight six. He failed to take full profit, mistiming a pull to be caught at short fine leg.

Bisla was in superb touch, though, giving his team a chance as he went to his 50 off 43 balls. His eventual 92 came off 61 balls with 14 fours and 2 sixes.

Still, Kolkata needed 75 off the last five overs. Morgan was dropped by Ravichandran Ashwin on 9, but 21 came in the 18th over as Bisla and Morgan hit out. The run out of Bisla proved crucial, as he took a risky single to Hussey at mid off and was beaten by a direct hit.

Hussey set up the target earlier despite battling with the Chennai heat. Gambhir won the toss and chose to field, but his bowlers came across the big opener in top form.

Hussey and Wriddhiman Saha got the ball rolling with an opening partnership of 103 off 61 balls. Hussey was the star turn, taking 95 off 59 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes.

Once the Australia holed out to deep mid wicket, Raina took over with a busy 44 off 25 balls before being run out in the final over, and a last-ball six from Dhoni took the score to exactly 200.

Chennai overtook the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the top of the log, while defending champions Kolkata remain seventh and will be hard pressed to make the play-offs.

On the individual front, Hussey has moved to 445 runs for the season, still five behind orange cap holder Chris Gayle (Bangalore). Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo each took a wicket to go to 15, one behind purple cap holder James Faulkner (Rajasthan Royals). 
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