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Openers give a flying start to Chennai

After Chennai skipper MS Dhoni won the toss, elected to bat first, openers Murali Vijay and Matthew Hayden gave the team rollicking start.

Hayden got off the mark in his trademark fashion when he hit Ryan Harris and RP Singh for a boundary each over mid-off and mid-on respectively in their opening overs.

Part-timer Rohit Sharma, who was introduced as early as the fourth over, went for 13 runs in his first over, with Vijay and Hayden getting a boundary each as visitors were scoring at almost 10 runs per over.

However the introduction of Harmeet Singh gave Chargers the breakthrough, when Hayden was brilliantly caught by Adam Gilchrist for 18 runs.

Photographs: IPL/Getty Images

Vijay runs himself out

Suresh Raina, who came in after Hayden's wicket, could have been back in the hut, but Monish Mishra totally misjudged an easy catch giving him a reprieve.

Chennai, however, dealt their second blow, when a misunderstanding between Raina and Vijay, cost the Tamil Nadu opener his wicket.

Raina played the ball towards long on for a single, and as Vijay turned for a second run, RP Singh's throw cam in flat and found him short of his crease.

Raina anchors the innings

That wicket saw Chennai lose the momentum as just 19 runs came from four overs with just one boundary as the total reached 74 for two after ten overs.

Raina got another lifeline, when he was dropped on 27 by Gilchrist as he edged an outgoing delivery from Symonds in the 11th over.

Pragyan Ojha, however pegged Chennai back further, when he bowled Dhoni with a quicker delivery for seven.

But Raina stood solid as a rock and soon completed his half-century as regular wickets meant that Super Kings finished with 138 for eight in 20 overs.

Ashwin provides the ideal start

On a slowish track, Dhoni decided to open the bowling with R Ashwin. Ashwin bolwed a good tight opening over and was rewarded when he picked up dangerous Adam Gilchrist, who was caught by Dhoni in his third over for just seven runs.

He then stuck again three balls later, he got Monish Mishra stumped as Chargers were reduced to 35 for two. Rohit Sharma too couldn't last long as he was brilliantly caught by Sudeep Tyagi off Suresh Raina for just eight.

Suman-Symonds steady innings

With the wickets falling around, T Suman and Andrew Symonds rallied the Chargers innings. Suman broke the shackles a bit when he hit a boundary first off left-arm spinner Jakati and then a huge six off Raina.

Suman took a special liking to Tyagi's bowling as he hit him for a six and boundary off consecutive balls to complete his second half-century of the tournament.

Suman was however was holed out at long on when he was caught by Raina off Jakati for a well made 55.

Symonds seals the game for Chargers

Symonds took over from where Suman left off and ensured that the hosts are in the hunt. He hit Jakati for a six and Bollinger for boundary as they closed in on the total.

Dwayne Smith then struck a meaty blow off Tushara scoring 11 runs off the over.

Symonds finished off the game as he guided a single to short third man to ensure that Chargers are right back in the semi-finals race.