Johannesburg, Oct 14: Moses Henriques' all-round performance powered Sydney Sixers to a 14-run win over Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament at the New Wanderers Stadium here Sunday.
Henriques blasted 49 off 22 balls in Sydney's 185 for five and then struck thrice in the Chennai innings which ended at 171 for nine in 20 overs. Shane Watson (46) and fast bowler Mitchell Starc (3-31) also contributed to the win while Suresh Raina's effort (57 off 33) went in vain.
Chennai started off slow in the run-chase before Faf du Plessis gave the innings a much needed impetus. He blasted 43 off 25 batting alongside Michael Hussey (16) to keep his side in the hunt. Both, however, were dismissed within a space of six balls to make it 67 for three in 9 overs, another 119 required off 66 balls.
Raina took the responsibility from there on, doing what he is known for. He belted eight fours and a couple of massive hits to keep the hopes alive. The equation, however, changed drastically into the favour of Sydney when Henriques got rid of Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (8) in the same over. Chennai still needed 44 off 18.
Ravichandran Ashwin (18 off 9) tried his best and hit some lusty blows but the task proved to be too much to ask.
Earlier, Watson set the tone for a big total while Henriques' blistering cameo towards the end helped the team cross 180.
Watson, continuing with the devastating form he showed in World Twenty20, smashed five fours and a couple of sixes before his run out.
Henriques, too, used the long handle to perfection, hammering five boundaries and three towering sixes. He got good support from Steven Smith (26 off 24).
© IANS
