IPL: CSK beat SRH by 8 wickets

Pune [India], May 13 (ANI): Ambati Rayudu's quick century helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeat Sunderisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday.

Chasing a strong total of 180 runs, it was the 134-run opening stand between Ambati Rayudu (100 not out) and Shane Watson (57 off 35 balls), which made the game easy for hosts to clinch victory over Hyderabad with an over to spare.

Both SRH and CSK continue to be at the first and second spot respectively in the points table.

For CSK, Shardul Thakur (2/32), Deepak Chahar (1/16) and Dwayne Bravo (1/39) were among the wickets takers.

Asked to bat first, Hyderabad didn't start off well as they could only manage 29/1 at the end of first six over after medium pacer Deepak Chahar dismissed England T20 expert Alex Hales (2) in the fourth over itself.

Shikhar Dhawan (79) and skipper Kane Williamson (51) were the top scorers for Sunrisers Hyderabad, which managed to put a competitive total of 179/4 after the end of first innings.

Quite like the first innings of the game, the second one also didn't go in favour of SHK as CSK openers Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson got off to a flying start thrashing SRH opening pair Sandeep Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

First wicket for SRK came in the 14th over when Shane Watson got run out. Though Suresh Raina (2) didn't stay long at the crease, Rayudu and CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (20) easily managed to secure a win for their side with an over to spare.

CSK are now virtually through to the play-offs. They'll seal their berth should Mumbai Indians lose to Rajasthan Royals in Sunday's second fixture at Wankhede Stadium. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI