On 10th April 2013, Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab engaged in one of the most one-sided matches at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali in the sixth edition of the IPL. Chennai Super Kings came out strong against the Kings defeating them by the maximum wickets margin – 10 wickets. Interestingly the highest run-getters for both the team were the Hussey brothers – David and Michael.
In the afternoon game played at the Mohali stadium, CSK Captain MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to field first. The decision was substantiated by his lead fast bowler Dirk Nannes. In the 3rd over, he sent back both the Punjab openers – Adam Gilchrist and Mandeep Singh.
Batting at number three, Manan Vohra and David stitched a small 30-run partnership to give some momentum to the innings. Manan soon fell after the powerplay completion and David Hussey was joined by Gurkeerat Singh.
The duo of David Hussey and Gurkeerat was well on course and it took Punjab past the 100-run mark in the 14th over, setting up a platform for the lower order to come in and hit hard. David Hussey owning the responsibility to up the ante stepped out to Ravi Ashwin in the 15th over. Hussey could not read the carrom ball from Ashwin and ended up skying an easy catch to Dwayne Bravo at long-off. David Hussey got out for 41.
The innings collapsed once there was no one to hold it together. All the remaining Punjabi batsmen went for glory and shot themselves in the foot. Dwayne Bravo benefitted from the panic and swallowed three wickets in the death overs. KXIP ended up with 138 all out on the board.
An exactly contrasting innings was played by the Chennai Super Kings openers. The openers are mentioned specifically because no one else from Chennai had to bat. The CSK Openers Murali Vijay and Michael played out the threatening bowlers of Punjab and mounted an attack on the unlucky others.
Michael Hussey was especially brutal. In the 54 balls that he faced, he scored 86 not out with 11 boundaries and two sixes. His strike rate in that innings was 159.25. Chennai Super Kings got home with 16 balls remaining.
In this match where a total of 277 runs were scored, the Hussey household was responsible for scoring 127 runs out of it. The Australian brotherhood sailed strong.
