As it turned out, with six needed off the last delivery, it was a word of advice from Mahendra Singh Dhoni that helped Bravo hold his nerve and bowl an accurate off-side yorker that Rashid Khan could only squeeze out for one run. That left Hyderabad at 178-6 in reply to Chennai’s 182-3.

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“Won’t say what we were talking about, but I wanted him to change his plan,” said Dhoni. “At times even the best like Bravo need a bit of advice. That’s what they’re paid for. What’s important is you make mistakes and learn. Bowlers will learn out of it.”

It all started well for Kane Williamson’s Hyderabad after they won the toss and elected to field, as Chennai only managed to put 27 runs on the board in the Powerplay.

[caption id=”attachment_68866″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Kane Williamson’s 51-ball 84 went in vain[/caption]

“We certainly started off very, very well with the ball. I think the new ball on that surface was very tough. And as the ball got older it became a lot more even,” said Williamson after the match.

However, an unbeaten half-century from Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu’s brilliant 37-ball 79 dragged Chennai to a competitive total.

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“Need to give credit to the batsmen. They’re getting stronger. They’re making plans as to which bowler bowls what,” pointed out Dhoni.

Praise flowed in from the opposition’s camp too, with Williamson crediting Rayudu and the others. “I think the way Chennai soaked up the pressure and the way they applied in the latter half … a lot of credit to the way they got to a very good total,” he said.

[caption id=”attachment_68867″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Suresh Raina scored an unbeaten 54 for Chennai[/caption]

Chennai carried the momentum in their bowling as Hyderabad lost three early wickets inside the first five overs. With wickets falling from the other end, Williamson needed someone to strike a partnership with. Shakib Al Hasan (24) and Yusuf Pathan (45) helped their captain steady the innings with useful contributions.

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However, once Williamson, who top scored with 84 in 51 balls, fell in the 18th over, Hyderabad’s chase looked dead in the water. Khan hit a six and a four off consecutive balls in the last over to keep them within striking distance, till Bravo’s yorker stopped them short.

“I am just ashamed that we couldn’t get across the line but a lot of positives to moving forward with,” said Williamson.