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20 overs Sydney Sixers 185 for 5 (Henriques 49*, Watson 46) v Chennai Super Kings
Moises Henriques hammered three sixes in his 49 © Associated Press
A blistering stand of 75 between Steven Smith and Moises Henriques towards the end of the innings lifted Sydney Sixers to 185 at the Wanderers. Shane Watson gave the team a rousing start, and the Chennai Super Kings spinners struck back with wickets but none of the bowlers were spared once the Smith-Henriques pair came together.
The Super Kings' seamers got good purchase from the track early on, getting a few to kick up off a good length and beat the bat. It took Watson a couple of overs to get the hang of the bounce and he announced his arrival with consecutive fours off Ben Hilfenhaus, which included a flat pull to square leg. When the Australian seamers were taken out off after four overs, the openers targeted the weak link in the seam attack. Yo Mahesh was carted for 18 off his only over, which included a clipped six over midwicket by Michael Lumb.
It wasn't all wild slogging. Watson then took on Bollinger in the following over with crisply driven boundaries off the front foot. MS Dhoni brought on his spinners to stem the flow of runs and was instantly rewarded with a wicket. Lumb failed to read the turn from Ravindra Jadeja and was trapped leg before. Watson was harsh on anything dragged short, and he made R Ashwin and Jadeja pay by cracking two sixes over the on side. Only a run-out could have ended Watson's stay and he fell in that manner four short of a fifty. He attempted a risky second run but wasn't quick enough for Hilfenhaus' flat and fiery throw from deep cover which hit the stumps on the half volley.
The spinners pulled things back for Super Kings after Watson's departure. R Ashwin struck twice in an over, removing Brad Haddin and Nic Maddinson as they tried to push the scoring. It wasn't the worst thing to happen to the Sixers, though, as it brought Smith and Henriques together. The pair began by bashing two boundaries down the ground off the part-time leg spin of Faf du Plessis and from that point on, an above-par score looked possible. The bowlers hemorrhaged 61 off the last four overs, which included eight fours and three sixes. Bollinger and Hilfenhaus, who were held back for the final overs, came in for some stick as the pair of Smith and Hilfenhaus muscled boundaries and played some cheeky ramp shots to exploit the infield.
Moises Henriques hammered three sixes in his 49 © Associated Press
A blistering stand of 75 between Steven Smith and Moises Henriques towards the end of the innings lifted Sydney Sixers to 185 at the Wanderers. Shane Watson gave the team a rousing start, and the Chennai Super Kings spinners struck back with wickets but none of the bowlers were spared once the Smith-Henriques pair came together.
The Super Kings' seamers got good purchase from the track early on, getting a few to kick up off a good length and beat the bat. It took Watson a couple of overs to get the hang of the bounce and he announced his arrival with consecutive fours off Ben Hilfenhaus, which included a flat pull to square leg. When the Australian seamers were taken out off after four overs, the openers targeted the weak link in the seam attack. Yo Mahesh was carted for 18 off his only over, which included a clipped six over midwicket by Michael Lumb.
It wasn't all wild slogging. Watson then took on Bollinger in the following over with crisply driven boundaries off the front foot. MS Dhoni brought on his spinners to stem the flow of runs and was instantly rewarded with a wicket. Lumb failed to read the turn from Ravindra Jadeja and was trapped leg before. Watson was harsh on anything dragged short, and he made R Ashwin and Jadeja pay by cracking two sixes over the on side. Only a run-out could have ended Watson's stay and he fell in that manner four short of a fifty. He attempted a risky second run but wasn't quick enough for Hilfenhaus' flat and fiery throw from deep cover which hit the stumps on the half volley.
The spinners pulled things back for Super Kings after Watson's departure. R Ashwin struck twice in an over, removing Brad Haddin and Nic Maddinson as they tried to push the scoring. It wasn't the worst thing to happen to the Sixers, though, as it brought Smith and Henriques together. The pair began by bashing two boundaries down the ground off the part-time leg spin of Faf du Plessis and from that point on, an above-par score looked possible. The bowlers hemorrhaged 61 off the last four overs, which included eight fours and three sixes. Bollinger and Hilfenhaus, who were held back for the final overs, came in for some stick as the pair of Smith and Hilfenhaus muscled boundaries and played some cheeky ramp shots to exploit the infield.