IPL 8 MI vs CSK: ‘We have to look to just start the game well,’ says Mike Hussey
Ranchi: Veteran Mike Hussey played a key role in ensuring Chennai Super Kings' record sixth appearance in the final of the Indian Premier League and the Australian said the team needs to be at its "best" to beat Mumbai Indians in Sunday's summit clash at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
CSK rode on Hussey's 56 off 46 balls to chase down the modest 140-run target set by Royal Challengers Bangalore and register a three-wicket win in the second qualifier on Friday.
"It is going to be a great match. I am hoping it sort of works out like 2013 where we beat Mumbai Indians in the first Qualifier to go straight to the final and then lost to them in the final. This time we lost to them in the qualifier and hopefully can turn the tables on them in the final," he said.
"They are a great team and have been playing some really good cricket. So we are going to have to be at our best. We have to look to just start the game well and hopefully our confidence will grow from there," Hussey was quoted as saying in the IPL website.
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Opening the batting, Hussey, who will be 40 in another four days, anchored the innings with his vast experience and together with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni shared crucial 47 runs for the fourth wicket on a difficult JSCA stadium pitch to guide CSK home.
(Photos: BCCI)
"It was just about making sure we built a partnership and try to be really busy. It was a difficult wicket to hit on; we had to run really hard between the wickets, constantly look for ones and twos and get the odd boundary away. It wasn't a big total to chase, so we knew if we just kept the positive intent going and take it close, a couple of big ones in the end would get us home," Hussey said about his partnership with Dhoni.
"I wanted to be there till the end but we still needed about 30-odd runs when I got out. As for me being more aggressive than MS, as I said, it was difficult for a new batsman to come in and start hitting. After he had invested 20-odd balls in the middle he knew what was going on."
