A fine opening partnership by Hamish Marshall and Deep Dasgupta led to an easy 9 wicket win for Royal Bengal Tigers against in-form Chennai Superstars in the ICL 20s Indian Championship match at Tau Devi Lal Stadium.

Chasing a victory target of 162 runs, the duo in an irresistible form, added 132 runs at a rapid pace. They toyed with the rival bowling attack as Bengal Tigers romped home losing just one wicket.

Former Kiwi opener Marshall was in destructive form. Marshall scored an unbeaten 80 runs off just 54 balls with 8 fours and 3 towering sixes, while former Bengal keeper-batsman Dasgupta notched up 46-ball 54 with 4 fours and 2 sixes. The two never lost out on any opportunity to score runs. Tigers lost their first and the only wicket of Dasgupta in the 15th over of the innings to former Pakistani medium pacer Shabbir Ahmad. Batting at number 3 position, Tigers skipper Craig McMillan meant no respite for the Superstars bowlers and slammed four fours without wasting any time as Tigers coasted home without any fuss.

Earlier batting first, Superstars from the very beginning lost their momentum as they lost their opener Hemanth Kumar in the 2nd over of the innings to Andre Adams. Middle order batsman Hemang Badani and R Sathish notched up half centuries as Chennai put 161 on board before being bowled out. Sathish was in sizzling form and hit three sixes and five fours in his 26-ball 50, while Badani scored 43-ball 55. Former Lankan leg-spinner Upul Chandana took four crucial wickets, thus restricting Superstars to a manageable total.

Scores in brief:

Chennai Superstars: 161/10 in 19.5 overs ( G Vignesh 22, Hemang Badani 55, R Sathish 50, Upul Chandana 4/38, Andre Adams 2/21)

Royal Bengal Tigers: 162/1 in 19.1 overs (Hamish Marshall 80 not out, Deep Dasgupta 54, Shabbir Ahmad 1/33)

Man of the Match: Hamish Marshall (Bengal Tigers)