Badrinath,Hayden take Chennai to IPL summit

Chris Burnes

Subramaniam Badrinath and Matthew Hayden took Chennai Super Kings to the top of the Indian Premier League table with a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in this diamond mining city on Saturday.

Earlier, Kings XI Punjab kept themselves in the race for a semi-final spot with a three-wicket win over the Deccan Chargers.

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds slammed an unbeaten 60 off 36 balls in his first match of the competition less than 48 hours after playing for Australia in a Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai.

Australian team-mate Brett Lee, also making his tournament debut after arriving on the same flight as Symonds, saw Punjab home with 14 not out, including a six in the penultimate over when it seemed as though his team were falling behind the required rate.

Deccan made 168 for five in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Symonds, who was well supported by Venugopal Rao (32) in a fifth wicket stand 95 off 57 balls.

Punjab twice lost two wickets in an over but scored quickly enough in the early overs to stay within reach of the target rate. Mahela Jayawardene hit 43 off 28 balls before being run out when he strained a hamstring muscle and could not beat an accurate throw from Ravi Teja as he attempted a second run after hitting to deep point.

Rajasthan were unable to mount a free-scoring partnership after choosing to bat first against Chennai. After Naman Ojha was bowled by Albie Morkel in the first over, Graeme Smith (30) and Swapnil Asnodkar (26) put on 53 for the second wicket but they used up 50 balls.

Spin bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Shadap Jakati took two wickets apiece as the Royals limped to 140 for seven.

Skipper Shane Warne hit an unbeaten 21 off 11 balls to give the innings some late momentum.

Hayden, already the tournament’s top run-scorer, made 48 off 44 balls and was content to play an anchor role as he and Badrinath took Chennai most of the way to victory with a third wicket stand of 89. Badrinath, who hit 20 in an over from Shane Harwood, finished with 59 not out off 41 balls with nine fours and a six.

Hayden was out 15 runs short of the target when he charged down the wicket to former Australian team-mate Warne, who had him stumped off a wide delivery.

IPL - Chennai defeat Rajasthan by seven wickets Brief scores from Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Rajasthan Royals at De Beers Diamond Oval Saturday:

Rajasthan 140-7 in 20 overs (G.Smith 30, R.Jadeja 27, S.Asnodkar 26, S.Warne 21 not out; M.Muralitharan 2-22, S.Jakati 2-35).

Chennai 141-3 in 18.2 overs (S.Badrinath 59 not out, M.Hayden 48) Chennai win by seven wickets

KIMBERLEY, South Africa, Sunday AFP