On This Day: CSK’s Michael Hussey scored 10th IPL half-century vs KKR

Michael Hussey scored 10th IPL half-century: Former Super Kings batsman had played a match-winning knock against Knight Riders.

On this day in 2013, former Chennai Super Kings batsman Michael Hussey had scored his 10th half-century in the tournament during the 38th match of the sixth season against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai.

After the then Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir won the toss and invited the visitors in to bat, Hussey hit a flurry of boundaries against Kolkata’s seamers in Mohammed Shami and Laxmipathy Balaji to make his intentions clear in front of a packed home crowd.

With Hussey’s opening partner in Wriddhiman Saha also getting into the act against his Bengali teammate Shami, Chennai looked set to dominate the powerplay.

ALSO READ: Michael Hussey endorses MS Dhoni fit to play for India

Both Hussey and Saha continuing their assault against the opposition bowlers meant that CSK had scored 67 runs in the powerplay. It was on the last delivery of the eighth over that Hussey ran a single off KKR all-rounder Jacques Kallis to complete his half-century.

Shifting his focus on running between the wickets, the current batting coach of Super Kings ensured that the run-flow didn’t stop after the fielding restriction overs were lifted.

Knight Riders all-rounder Rajat Bhatia sending back Saha (39) in the 11th over put an end to a 103-run opening partnership. Vice-captain Suresh Raina (44), who replaced Saha at No. 3, ably supported Hussey as the duo shared a brisk 55-run stand.

Michael Hussey scored 10th IPL half-century

Having found the boundary frequently, Hussey decided to take Yusuf Pathan to the cleaners in the 15th over through the midwicket region. It was on the penultimate delivery of the 16th over that Hussey’s attempt of playing a similar shot off Narine saw him missing his second IPL century.

Having scored 95 (59) with the help of 11 fours and two sixes, Hussey played a pivotal role in CSK scoring 200/3 in 20 overs. Despite wicket-keeper batsman Manvinder Bisla scoring a good-looking 92 (61), KKR fell short off the target by 14 runs in the end.

It is worth mentioning that Hussey had ended IPL 2013 as its highest run-scorer. In the 17 T20s that the southpaw played that season, he had amassed 733 runs at an average of 52.35 and a strike rate of 129.50 including six half-centuries.