Mohali, April 19: Singles were booed and braces were scorned. Such was the electric pace at which runs flowed that anything less than the ball reaching the fence was boring. Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab rode on powerful knocks by Mike Hussey and James Hopes. Both didn't deserve to be on the losing side. But sadly over specific cricket can only be left with one winner and it was the visitors who prevailed in a tight contest. The bludgeoning hundred by Mike Hussey kick started the Super Kings IPL campaign with a 33-run win. But skipper Dhoni might have been left wondering what a safe total in this format is.

To sustain momentum for 20 overs was a difficult task but Kings XI did a fair job even after Hopes went. Full credit to Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh who took the fight to the opposition's camp. Openers Hopes and Karan Goel had given the thrust with a 56-run stand in 5.5 overs. Hopes was clear with his methods. He cleared his front foot to give room out side the off-stump and swung in the arc. The bowlers simply obliged. It was counter attacking brilliance by Hopes who cracked 71 in just 33 balls.

Sangakkara kept the interest alive with a fine 54 but the required rate kept climbing. With every dot ball the demand grew many folds. The margin however does not reveal the full story.

There were moments where Yuvraj would have sensed a win. It was rich entertainment and barring the result the crowd could not have complained.

Earlier, Dhoni won a good toss that ensured his side did not have to bat under lights.

The visitors were on the rampage from the word go. The first over from Brett Lee went for five. That in the context of what came later was stingy.

Parthiv Patel sweetly timed two cover drives and edged one in between of Sreesanth that launched the innings. Matthew Hayden was doing the obvious mistake of trying to hit the ball too hard and found it difficult. He was fortuitous to survive as a few nicks missed the timber by a whisker.

Parthiv Patel was beaten by pace. Lee who extracted good bounce got one to lift and Parthiv duly guided it to Sangakkara.

Mike Hussey walked in with a reasonable run rate behind him. What followed was scientific hitting. There was no slogging, Hussey thrived in hitting straight. He played the pull only when the length afforded him to.

Some of the sixes that flowed were sheer poetry, it had nothing to do with T20 madness. Against the run of play Hayden left slogging to Irfan Pathan and Dhoni was trapped by Hopes.

The crowd went silent. Then it sinked he was the foe, the Bhangra started all over again.

The wicket of Dhoni opened the gates for Yuvraj but sadly he did not attack Suresh Raina enough. The southpaw settled in quickly and in the company of Hussey forged a partnership that took the game away from Kings XI.

The bowling at this stage went pedestrian as they offered the batsmen time to go across the line.

Whatever field Yuvraj came up with the batsmen were given an opportunity to find the gaps. Badri's cameo towards the end made a huge difference. It was a day filled with rich fanfare. The music was loud, the Bhangra enticing and there was Mike Hussey.