Dhoni hits form in Chennai victory

Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulls the ball to the boundary during his brutal innings of 58

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit an unbeaten half-century and Shadab Jakati claimed four wickets as Chennai Super Kings defeated Indian Premier League leaders Deccan Chargers by 78 runs.

Dhoni top-scored with a quickfire 58 from 37 balls, while Matthew Hayden made 43 as the Super Kings, batting first, notched up 178 for the loss of three wickets.

The Chargers hopes of victory were immediately undermined as they crashed to one for three with star names Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs and VVS Laxman all falling for ducks.

Albie Morkel was the chief destroyer trapping Gilchrist lbw for a first-ball duck before having Laxman caught by Jakati in his next over.

In between, Sudeep Thyagi bowled Gibbs when the South African attempted to swat a full delivery through mid-wicket.

Dwayne Smith attempted to revive the Chargers innings although the West Indies all-rounder should have been Morkel’s third victim, but was dropped twice while on two. Smith made the most of the reprieves, clubbing Morkel for three sixes and a four in his next over.

Smith went on to make 49 off just 23 deliveries, a knock studded with five sixes and two fours. Together with Rohit Sharma (21), Smith added 72 in quick time for the fourth wicket, but their entertaining stand ended when Jakati accounted for both batsman in one over.

The Chargers then lost their way again and were eventually bowled out for 100 with 6.2 overs to spare.

Shadab Jakati played a valuable role for Chennai, taking 4-22 from his four overs

Jakati finished with 4-22 from four, while Muttiah Muralitharan and Morkel finished with two wickets each.

Earlier, Hayden and Murali Vijay had laid a strong platform with an opening stand worth 61.

Hayden tore into new-ball bowler Ryan Harris and first change Smith and later tackled the spinners with ease.

His blitz ended when he attempted to cut a ball from Shoaib Ahmed from too close to the body and was caught by RP Singh.

Vijay then weighed anchor at the other end and made 31 from 33 deliveries before holing out off Tirumalsetti Suman.

Dhoni promoted himself to number three in an effort to strike some form and finally delivered a knock of substance.

He forged a fine partnership with Suresh Raina, the left-hander contributing 32 off just 19 deliveries.

Raina had treated Suman with scant respect, clubbing the spinner for a boundary and two sixes off the first three balls of his third over, but fell to the guile of RP Singh when he was re-introduced into the attack in the 18th over.