Chennai Super Kings 5-160 (MS Dhoni 67*, Michael Hussey 45, Amit Mishra 3-26) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 6-159 (Shikhar Dhawan 63*, Ashish Reddy 36*, Mohit Sharma 2-33) by five wickets.

MS Dhoni led from the front and took his team out of trouble by posting a thundering unbeaten fifty as Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai.

Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 159 runs with four wickets remaining in the measured 20 overs and Chennai Super kings reached the target by amassing 160 for the loss of five wickets in 19.4 overs.

MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his express innings of 67 from 37 mere balls.

The 34^th match of the Indian Premier League was played on Thursday, April 25, 2013, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Earlier, Cameron White, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, won the toss and felt no hesitation in batting first. The decision bounced back when they lost two quick wickets for just 12 runs in two overs as White got together with Shikhar Dhawan who hit 4 fours in the next two overs. White was caught behind by Dhoni off Mohit Sharma for two and was replaced by Amit Mishra who got two successive fours in the seventh over. The score touched 61 in 9.5 overs when Mishra was gone for 15 as Thalaivan Sargunam appeared in the center.

Dhawan kept the score board moving but was retired hurt at 44 after the third ball of the 14^th over. Darren Sammy made his debut in the IPL and scored 13 runs from the first 8 balls with 1 six and 1 four. Thalaivan Sargunam was caught and bowled by Dwayne Bravo for 10 and Ashish Reddy was the next batsman in who hit a six in the 17^th over. Sammy surrendered for 19 as Shikhar Dhawan re-appeared and completed his fifty with 2 fours. Dhawan and Reddy dispatched 33 runs in the last two overs with 2 sixes and 4 fours as the total touched 159 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. Shikhar Dhawan was unbeaten for 63 off 45 balls with 10 fours whereas Ashish Reddy secured his end at 36 off 16 with 3 mighty sixes and 2 fours.

Mohit Sharma and Dwayne Bravo were the most successful bowlers with two wickets each as Ravichandran Ashwin claimed one.

Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay got off to a nice start and scored 27 runs in the first three overs with 4 fours. Hussey hit 1 six and 1 four in the fourth over and repeated it two overs later.  The opening partnership was broken at 65 in 7.3 overs as Murali Vijay lost his wicket for 18 as Suresh Raina joined in with Hussey who became the next victim at 76 at his individual score of 45 off just 26 deliveries with 2 lofty sixes and 5 fours. MS Dhoni promoted him up in the order to deal with the situation as the home side needed 84 runs to win from 60 balls. He was lucky to be dropped at nought by Amit Mishra at fine leg off Dale Steyn and that was a costly lapse for the visitors.

Dhoni utilised the chance by hitting 2 fours in the 13^th over as Raina was caught by Darren Sammy off Mishra for 16. The skipper took over from there as the boundaries started showering from his willows and he hit 2 sixes and even fours in the following overs. A couple of wickets fell in between as Chennai Super Kings required another 28 runs to capture the game in 12 balls. MS Dhoni completed his fifty in the 19^th over with 1 six and 1 four and got 1 six and 2 fours in the last over to clinch the match. He occupied his crease for 67 off just 37 balls with 4 giant sixes and 7 fours as the score board displayed 160 runs with two balls to spare.

Amit Mishra bowled well and was rewarded with three wickets whereas Ishant Sharma and Dale Steyn picked one each.

Chennai Super Kings won the cliff-hanger with a margin of five wickets and have won six out of their 8 encounters while grabbing 12 points.