Albie Morkel swings it Chennai's way

Albie Morkel blasts 19 off just six balls in the Chennai Super Kings' 19-run victory against the Deccan Chargers.

Suresh Raina hits a shot on his way to a 35-ball 59 against Deccan yesterday.

Albie Morkel blasted 19 off just six balls in the Chennai Super Kings' 19-run victory against the Deccan Chargers and then admitted: "It is not easy to hit in the end overs".

Morkel hit three towering sixes — including a tournament-record 109 metres — off Ishant Sharma as Chennai scored 69 off the last five overs to finish on 165 for five.

The South African, who also took three wickets, said: "I started to practise last week, hitting balls in the middle from ball one. Lance Klusener [the former South Africa all-rounder] is one of my idols, if I can be half the player he was, I'll be happy.

"With the ball, when there is a bit of swing around, I do well, but if it goes straight it gets a bit tough."

MS Dhoni, his captain, said: "Our bowling was ordinary to start off. It is not easy when someone is willing to give away his wicket and score runs.

"But we came back well, I am happy with the runs we put on the board. We always try to set up a platform because of which we are able to score lots of runs in the last three or four overs. Albie really finished the game well.

"Lots of teams put emphasis in the last six, we look to capitalise on the last four or five overs."

Chasing Chennai's 165 for victory, Deccan could reach only 146 for eight, despite a blazing start they got from Sunny Sohal (56).

Sohal and Shikhar Dhawan, blasted 50 off just 4.2 overs including three sixes and six fours. Sohal brought up his 50 off 22 balls with another six, but Shadab Jakati broke the 71-run stand by bowling Sohal, who missed the ball while attempting a reverse sweep.

But accurate Chennai bowling left Deccan needing 48 off 30 balls, but after Doug Bollinger bowled Kumar Sangakkara (15 off 12 balls). The next two overs yielded just 15 runs leaving Jean-Paul Duminy and Cameron White to score 29 off the remaining two overs.

Morkel finished things off by dismissing the pair as Deccan could make only 146 for eight.

Sangakkara said: "Chennai batted and bowled well and did the basics better than us. They got 15-20 runs more than we were looking at. We've got another six games, it only takes a little bit to turn it around in T20."

* Compiled by The National staff with agencies