A blistering stand of 75 between Moises Henriques and Steve Smith towards the end of the innings was the difference as Sydney Sixers’ 185 was enough to keep out Chennai Super Kings in a high-scorer at the Wanderers. Henriques made telling blows on the field as well, as his three middle-order wickets derailed Super Kings’ chase just as the asking rate started reducing. Suresh Raina threatened with an attacking half-century, but the lack of support at the other end hurt Super Kings’ chances. Shane Watson gave the Sixers a rousing start after they would put in to bat, and the Chennai Super Kings spinners struck back with wickets but none of the bowlers were spared once the Smith-Henriques pair came together.
When the Australian seamers were taken out off after four overs, the openers – Watson and Michael Lumb – 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 Lumb.
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 Ben 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.
Super Kings got off to a circumspect start, limping to 7 for 1 after three overs. Du Plessis gave the chase a push with a flurry of boundaries through the off side, charging the fast bowlers to unsettle their rhythm, in particular Pat Cummins. Cummins had the last laugh though, when du Plessis advanced down the track to launch a straight six but couldn’t clear long-on.
Sixers captain Brad Haddin risked introducing his spinners when Suresh Raina walked in. Raina targeted his favourite cow corner region against the left-arm spin of Steve O’Keefe and was also alert to put away the length offerings from the seamers. The bowlers didn’t exploit Raina’s weakness against the short ball and with every Raina boundary, the game was Sixers’ to lose. Like they had done with the bat, the Henriques-Smith pairing proved decisive, this time in the field. Raina aimed for the long-on boundary off Henriques’ medium pace, but Smith took a well-judged catch at the edge of the rope. Henriques struck two balls later with MS Dhoni’s wicket and that had all but sealed the game for Sixers, with 44 needed off the last three overs.
