Victoria got perfect opening against us : Dhoni

Port Elizabeth: Disappointed after losing to Victoria Bushrangers via the Super Over, Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday said that a good opening partnership played crucial role for the Australian side in the Champions League Twenty20 match here.

"The opening in batting went perfect for Victoria. They played well, but at the end of the day it is disappointing to lose such a close match," Dhoni said after the Group A encounter.

"For sometime it was raining and so the ball was going to the batsmen well. But later we came back well and spinners did good job. (Suresh) Raina also did well," he added.

Riding on Vijay's 53-ball innings, CSK posted 162 for six in 20 overs but then Victoria also managed the exact score and the encounter had to be stretched into the Super Over.

He also defended his decision to use R Ashwin during the Super Over, from which Victoria took 23 runs.

"Ashwin is a bowler who has a lot of variations. So I though the fast bowlers may not do that well," he said.

Meanwhile, his Victoria counterpart David Hussey said he was happy to get the full points against the Indian Premier League side.

"Today we got the points and I am happy that Ashwin bowled the Super Over. It was good performance by the team," he said.