Splendid all round show help Chennai beat Deccan by 78 runs

East London, May 4: A splendid top-order batting combined with devastating bowling helped Chennai Super Kings record their third win on the rot as they outclassed Deccan Chargers by 78 runs in their action-packed Indian Premier League match here today.
Chennai top-oder fired in unison to score impressive 178 for three after opting to bat, with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52) being the top scorer.

Deccan, who came into clash with two successive defeats, never recovered from a catastrophic start and were bundled out for a paltry 100 in 14.4 overs.

Had there not been a counter-attack by Dwyane Smith (49) and Rohit Sharma (21) Deccan would have slumped to a more humiliating defeat.

With this win Chennai also toppled Deccan Chargers at the top of the points table, pushing them to number four.

Chargers had no idea that a disastrous start was waiting for them as their top three batsmen -- Adam Gilchirst (0), Herschelle Gibbs (0) and VVS Laxman (0) -- went back to hut without bothering the scorer.

From here, Smith and Sharma revived the innings with a dramatic 72-run stroke-filled partnership but could finish it off for their side.

Shadab Jakati excelled for Chennai with four wickets but it was pace duo of Albie Morkel (2/24) and Sudeep Tyagi (1/9) who set the platform for an exciting win. PTI