Melbourne, Apr 24 : Star Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has revealed his joy playing alongside Matthew Hayden in the IPL, comparing the opener's performances to God.

After watching his Chennai Super Kings teammate smash 57 of 27 balls against the Delhi Daredevils last night, Muralitharan said: "It's a joy to watch him bat like that. He is a dangerous batsman. Hayden is batting like God here."

The Chennai Super Kings' off-spinner said he was confident that his team could win when Hayden was at the crease, The Age reported.

However, the Super Kings lost last night by nine runs, after Delhi reached 189 on the back of man of the match A B De Villiers's 105 from 54 balls.

"I kept it simple, hit the ball and enjoyed myself. I really had to work hard for my first 50 as my timing was a bit off, but the runs flowed from then on," De Villiers said.

Delhi teammate Paul Collingwood of England branded the De Villiers innings "perfect" and Hayden called it a "magnificent, patient and methodical" stand. (ANI)