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If you'd looked at the schedule before the IPL, and been told that of the two teams facing each other for the first match of April 27th, one had won 3 games on the trot while the other had only 1 win off four games, you'd have assumed Chennai had won 3, while Hyderabad had won 1. But such is the nature of T20, the headlines were the same, but with the teams reversed. Chennai needed to win this match to keep its title hopes alive, while Hyderabad didn't want to break its winning momentum.

Adam Gilchrist won the toss and inserted Chennai on a fresh pitch that looked likely to help the bowlers early on, before easing out. Fidel Edwards got his mandatory wicket in the first over, when he had Parthiv caught behind off the second ball of the match.

However, Hayden was in a murderous mood, and he treated purple cap holder RP Singh with scant respect. The fall of Raina after a good cameo, didn't deter Hayden. But as he's done everytime for Hyderabad, Pragyan Ojha put a stopper in Chennai's plans, with two big wickets in one over - those of Dhoni and Hayden, both not getting hold of the ball and getting caught. In what is becoming a worrying situation for Chennai, Albie Morkel came, hit one, and went. chennai need him to perform better than he has done so far in the tournament, because the Albie that has turned out for Chennai is a far cry from the one who terrorised the Australians a few short months ago.

For today though, Jacob Oram was the man for Chennai, and it was due to his lusty hitting at the end, that Chennai reached a total of 165 for 6.

It seemed to be competitive during the mid-innings break.

Someone forgot to tell that to Herschelle Gibbs and Adam Gilchrist though. In a display of batsmanship not yet seen in the IPL so far, they raced to 60 off just 4 overs, reaching the fastest 50 of the IPL in the process. Dhoni was forced to bring on Murali inside the power play, and he bowled the first sane over of the innings when he conceded 'just' 6 runs.

In desperation, Dhoni turned to part-timer Raina for the last over of the powerplay, but the gamble worked, when he got Gilchrist to cut one straight into gully's hands. Gilchrist departed for 44 off 19 balls. With his wicket, the scoring rate slowed down from a manic 15 runs per over to saner proportions, and Raina struck again when he had Laxman caught in a similar manner to Gilchrist.

Rohit Sharma and Gibbs then kept Hyderabad on course with a useful partnership of 39, but just when Hyderabad looked to be in control, Rohit fell, but with 42 needed off 38 balls, it was still very much Hyderabad's game. Chennai pulled things back though, especially through Murali's last over, where he gave just 2 runs and got the wicket of Dwayne Smith, until it came down to 8 needed off the final over. Gibbs then settled the issue with a six off the first ball that Balaji bowled, and with a single and a four off the next two, Hyderabad were home, sitting firmly at the top of the charts with 4 wins out of 4 matches.

Man of the Match: Hercshelle Gibbs for his superb innings of 69 not out off 56 balls, which anchored the chase. He started off matching Gilchrist stroke for stroke, but then settled down to a more sedate pace, ensuring that one end was held up, and finished off the chase in style.

Turning Point of the Match: Gilchrist and Gibbs onlslaught in the initial overs of the chase. The start ensured that the batsmen coming in would have it much easier, and importantly allowed them to see out Murali's overs safely without needing to take any risks against him.

Soundbytes: "It's not about getting close, it's about winning" - MS Dhoni couldn't have summed up his team's plight better. 3 losses - 3 close games, and the pre-tournament favourites suddenly face a struggle to qualify for the semi-finals.

"Oh I'm not revealing that!" - Adam Gilchrist, on being asked what his theory was for not bowling Pragyan Ojha at the death.