Supreme Superstars make it two in row

The sixth match of the ICL20s Indian Championship featured the resurgent Ahmedabad Challenge the supremacy of the formidable Chennai Superstars at the LB stadium Hyderabad. The engrossing battle that delivered a very high standard of cricket from both sides saw the Chennai Superstars emerge winners by 35 runs. With this win Chennai Superstars made it two in a row making them one of the favorites for the title. Russel Arnold was declared man of the match for his stability personified 46 runs.
Earlier in the evening Damien Martyn, won the toss for the Rockets and elected to field. The Superstars got off to a disastrous start, with some sloppy running between the wickets seeing Harvey and Hariesh back in the dugout in the first couple of overs, leaving the Superstars reeling 5/2 in the second over. Eighteen runs off the fourth over from debutant Kunal Lal had the Superstars right back on track. Vignesh was at his swashbuckling best taking the score to 65 in the 7th over, ably supported by the experienced Arnold on the other end. Vignesh's cameo of 38 runs finally came to an end in the 8th over by Sodhi and included 2 fours and 3 sixes. A brilliant piece of fielding at gully from Murray Goodwin saw the end of Jesuraj to leave the Superstars in a bit of a bother at 82/4 in the 10th over. The loss of wickets had no effect of the Superstars' batting Juggernaut and the legendary Michael Bevan "role play definition" for his side was on full view with Sathish & Arnold playing according to the situation taking the score to 130 at the 15th over mark. At the 16th over stage the Superstars were placed at 135 /5 when a minor power failure had the VJD rule implemented, curtailing the Superstars' innings at that stage & setting the Rockets a target of 143 in 16 overs.

The Rockets reply was off to a shaky start with Rockets' performer of their previous encounter Aziz, snapped in the very first over by Shabbir Ahmed. The cheap dismissal of Ryan Campbell for 5 in the 4th over was not helping the Rockets cause and had the side in serious trouble at 15/2 at the end of the 4th over. The resurgent Reetinder Sodhi got into the repair act in company of Martyn taking the score to 44/2 at the 7th over mark. An eventful 8th over had some vintage Martyn strokes taking 15 runs off the pacy Hayward. At the half way stage of their innings the Rockets were placed at 59/2 needing another 84 runs off 48 balls and eight wickets in hand, making it a fascinating high pressure encounter. The Classy Martyn was playing a top of the drawer innings brining his well deserved fifty in the 11th over. The dangerous71 run partnership between Sodhi & Martyn for the third wicket was ended with a smart piece of fielding from Hayward, finding Sodhi short of his ground for a well made 22 in the 12th over. The quick dismissal of the Rocket's' skipper in the same over got the upper hand back to the formidable Superstars. With four overs to go the top standard match had the Rockets' needing an uphill task of 55 runs from 24 balls.