Matthew Hayden turns 48: The Australia opener's top 5 IPL innings

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and Indian Premier League (IPL) side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have a strong bond and the player cherishes the time he spent with the side. Hayden was part of the CSK franchise in the IPL for the first 3 seasons and established himself as their most dependable opener during that period.

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We take a look at his top 5 innings in the yellow jersey -

81 vs Mumbai Indians (2008)

This clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was a high scoring affair. Chennai batted first and made a fiery start but also lost two crucial wickets at regular intervals. Hayden along with Suresh Raina built a partnership of 104 runs to take the team to safety. After Raina's wicket, the Australian along with the skipper MS Dhoni then took the charge of the match. 'Haydos' as he is called, played 81-run knock as Chennai reached a mammoth total of 208 runs.

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65 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2009)

2009 was the year when the IPL moved to South Africa. While the Indian players struggled to bat, Matthew Hayden scored heavily in the tournament as the pitches were tailor-made for him. He played a match-winning knock of 65 runs off 35 balls during Chennai Super Kings' match vs Royal Challengers Bangalore. He also registered the second-fastest half-century in the Indian Premier League (IPL), reaching the mark in just 22 balls at the St George's Park. CSK won the match by 92 runs.

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89 vs Kings XI Punjab (2009)

The match, which was reduced to 18 overs due to rain, saw Matthew Hayden’s swashbuckling knock of 89 helping the Chennai Super Kings to a 12-run victory over Kings XI Punjab. The burly Australian frustrated Punjab’s bowlers by hitting eight fours and six sixes during his 58-ball knock. Hayden (89) and Raina (32) added 76 off 55 balls for the second wicket. 

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60* vs Mumbai Indians (2009)

Hayden was in swashbuckling form and was also the leading run-getter in the tournament in 2009. Chasing 148 runs to win, Chennai lost early three wickets. Hayden along with skipper Dhoni, stitched a match-winning partnership to take their side to victory. Hayden was unbeaten on 60 runs.

93 v Delhi Daredevils (2010)

This was the match where Hayden famously introduced the Mongoose bat (a bat that is 33 percent shorter than normal, but thicker and with a long handle) in style to the world. The left-hander went on a carnage, smashing 93 runs off 43 balls before a blinder by Tillakaratne Dilshan sent him back to pavilion. The 185-run target set by Delhi looked small as Chennai eventually sealed the game in the last over.