Pune restrict Chennai to 142

Pune Warriors kept up their reputation as the most economical bowling side in the IPL, restricting Chennai Super Kings to 142 for 6. The innings started lethargically for Chennai with two runs coming off Nathan McCullum's first over. M Vijay looked particularly lacklustre and was almost run out twice in two balls in the second over.

His charmed stint at the crease continued when two balls later he scored the first boundary of the innings, off an edge that flew past first slip. Hussey appeared more fluent, smacking a six over McCullum's head.

Then the nerves returned, this time for Hussey. He was almost run out scrambling to complete a bye off the last ball of the fourth over. In the sixth over, Hussey scored consecutive, streaky boundaries, first off an inside edge and then with an outside edge.

The drama continued when Hussey was dropped on 28 by Yuvraj Singh. The Pune skipper was at extra cover when Hussey lofted the ball there, timed his leap well and got his fingers to it but couldn't complete the catch. 

Luck eventually ran out and Vijay top edged a bouncer from Thomas and presented McCullum with a simple catch at midwicket. Thomas made up for a few of Pune's missed chances as he also claimed the wicket of Suresh Raina. After two short balls, one of which Raina top edged over mid-off, Thomas bowled a straight one and knocked over middle and leg. Chennai were 66 for 2 at the halfway stage, their lowest score in 10 overs in this year's competition.

Yuvraj Singh and Murali Kartik were economical in the middle overs. The big battle between Yuvraj and MS Dhoni had only one highlight, a six over Yuvraj's head from Dhoni. Hussey continued providing the impetus and brought up his fifty with a stunning cover drive. Dhoni joined in the fun with consecutive boundaries off Rahul Sharma, one a lucky inside edge, the other off a half volley, bu his good fortune ended and he was stumped after being deceived by a flighted delivery from Sharma.

Hussey was dismissed four balls later, after trying to shovel Jerome Taylor over long-on. Manish Pandey completed a fine catch just inside the rope. Albie Morkel made no impact, departing three balls later for a duck, while attempting a big shot that only found Jesse Ryder at deep cover. Thomas bowled a clutch of yorkers in his last over and Taylor turned on the gas to finish things off. Even a six from S Badrinath in the final over couldn't take Chennai over the 150 mark.