Chennai Super Kings, after losing that cliffhanger against Mumbai Indians, made amends in some style, punishing the Kings XI Punjab en route to a ten-wicket victory in their second match of IPL 2013.
Michael Hussey (86 in 54 balls) and Murali Vijay (50 in 50) chased down the modest target of 139, after Kings XI were bowled out for 138 from 19.5 overs, with consummate ease in 17.2 overs to pick up their first win in the tournament.
It was a walk in the park for the CSK openers, as Hussey and Vijay lent into the Kings XI bowling, after starting on a relatively cautious note.
Michael Hussey, though, was lucky to survive on a couple of occasions, with Piyush Chawla in particular dropping a sitter off his own bowling.
The duo ruthlessly went about chasing down their target with Hussey the aggressor, as Vijay calmly did the needful at the other end.
The crowd would have been a little disappointed not to have been able to see MS Dhoni in action -- even if he might have been playing for the opposing side - but the CSK skipper will be quite happy with the dominating win and will be hoping for more of the same from the upcoming games.
In the first innings, Kings XI just failed to find the right momentum, even when they were at a decent position with David Hussey and Gurkeerat Singh at the crease.
Adam Gilchrist, a man who has not played any sort of real cricket for a long time, played a nice shot through the offside to increase hopes of a vintage innings, but the rust told in the end as the Kings XI skipper fell for nine, caught nicely at leg gully by Michael Hussey off Dirk Nannes' bowling.
The talented Mandeep Singh followed a run later and two deliveries later, top edging one to Dwayne Bravo for Nannes' (two for 17) second wicket.
Kings XI then went about building a nice platform for a big score which they would be able to defend on a flat wicket, as David Hussey and Manan Vohra allied together for 30 runs, before the former got together with Gurkeerat following the dismissal of Vohra for 16 (11b, 3x4).
The duo put together a nice partnership of 56 runs, with runs flowing from the blade of both players, particularly David Hussey, who looked in the mood for a big score.
However, one false shot from the Australian international led to CSK taking full advantage and complete control of the match.
David Hussey (41, 36b, 4x4, 1x6) looked to clear Bravo at long off for a six off Ashwin's bowling, but only found the enigmatic West Indian in the deep.
From 106 for four in 14.1 overs, Kings XI crumbled to 138 all out, and with it basically handing the game to CSK, as Dwayne Bravo finished with three easy wickets to his name.
