CENTURION, May 7: Smothering the battle of big hitters, Suresh Raina sent down two critical overs for next to nothing to help Chennai Super Kings to squeeze out a 12-run win over Kings XI Punjab here on Thursday.

Yuvraj Singh (58 not out, 36b, 5x4, 2x6) and Mahela Jayawardene (44, 25b) had almost matched the ferocity of the assault unleashed by Matthew Hayden and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the Chennai innings, but Raina’s two overs, the 15th and 17th of the innings that went for just 8 runs, decisively turned the tide towards Chennai.

On a overcast day in Centurion, it rained sixes and fours — a total of 17 maximums and 31 boundaries in a run-glut.

After Chennai Super Kings blazed to 185/3 in 18 overs in the rain-interrupted match, Kings XI Punjab put up a sublime display of power-hitting in their chase notching up 174/3 in 18 overs.

For the Super Kings, it was the Haydos show all the way at the Super Sport Park in Centurion as he bludgeoned his way to 89 off just 58 balls against Kings XI Punjab on Thursday.

Hayden reached his third fifty of the tournament off 44 balls with six fours and two sixes. Skipper Dhoni at the other end began in rapid pace hammering 24 runs off paceman V.R.V. Singh. The former Australian opener took Dhoni’s cue and blasted three sixes off S. Sreesanth.

Scores: Chennai Super Kings 185/3 (M. Hayden 89, M.S. Dhoni 56 not out) beat Kings XI Punjab 174/3 (Yuvraj 58 not out, S. Katich 50)