Michael Hussey gave credit to Chennai Super Kings bowlers for the team’s resounding 10-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab here on Wednesday night.
“I think the bowlers did a great job. We also fielded very well that led to a few wickets. And there was a little bit of luck as well for us,” said Hussey after receiving the Man of the Match for his unbeaten knock of 86.
Understating the second instance of his partnership with M. Vijay in setting up CSK’s 10-wicket win, Hussey said, “It was good fun today. The whole team played very well. We improved a lot from the game against Mumbai the other night. We were really cruising today.
“That’s the nature of twenty20 cricket. You have to stay positive and aggressive. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
He praised Chris Morris for making an impressive debut. “It is not easy to fly down from South Africa, straightaway play the game the next day and be part of a winning team. The bonus of two South Africans (Morris and Albie Morkel) joining us is that they are in T20 mode. They don’t have to switch mode from Tests or One-day cricket.”
On his part, the KXIP skipper Adam Gilchrist held the batting debacle responsible for the defeat.
We were not off the mark: Gilchrist
“We did not play very well today. We played well in patches and showed our positive approach. But Chennai passed us in most areas. We were not off the mark with three down for 110 but we didn’t convert from there. We lost too many wickets.”
This was only the third instance of nine batsmen dismissed caught in an IPL innings. Looking at the factors that led to the team’s defeat, Gilchrist said, “We dropped a couple of catches and for some strange reason, the third umpire gave a clear, obvious run-out, not out.”
He was quick to point out that “it was not the bowling but batting that let us down” but defended the approach of the batsman. “If you get it in the middle (of the bat), you get a six. Lot of our guys were caught at the boundary. They did not play horrible shots and get bowled. I think, even 160 was not a good enough score to defend on this wicket. It was a big total wicket.”
