Hat-trick hero Balaji

Seamer takes five wickets in Chennai triumph

Last updated: 11th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hat-trick hero Balaji

Balaji: figures of 5-24

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The Chennai Super Kings comfortably defended a total of 181-4 to claim an 18-run victory over the Kings XI Punjab in Saturday's Indian Premier League fixture.

Rapid half-centuries from Subramaniam Badrinath (64) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (60no) led the Super Kings to a respectable score after they had been asked to bat.

Lakshmipathy Balaji then took 5-24, including the IPL's first hat-trick, to ruin Punjab's reply and seal his side's sixth win in the tournament.

Balaji's haul included dangermen Shaun Marsh (58) and Irfan Pathan (40) as the Kings XI finished well short on 163-9.

Pathan was the first victim of the seamer's final over hat-trick, Piyush Chawla and VRV Singh following back to the dugout from successive deliveries, all three caught attempting big shots.

The result moves the Super Kings level with the Rajasthan Royals at the top of the points table, while Punjab remain well placed in third despite the loss.

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