Blackcaps batter Devon Conway made the most of a rare opportunity in the Indian Premier League (IPL), helping his Chennai Super Kings to a 13-run victory over Kane Williamson's Sunrisers Hyderabad.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Conway and opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad (99) led from the front with a stand of 182 for the first wicket, batting for one ball shy of 18 overs.
Initially starved of the strike by Gaikwad, Conway raised his first half-century of his first season in the IPL, taking 39 balls with five fours and two sixes.
The 30-year-old Blackcaps batter has seen his chances with the Super Kings limited so far in 2022, with Monday morning's (NZ time) innings just his second of this year's tournament, as the Stephen Fleming-coached side has struggled to balance its team, with just four overseas players allowed to play each game.
Gaikwad fell one run short of his century, but Conway batted right through the innings, not out with 85 runs from 55 balls - hitting eight fours and two sixes - as Chennai posted 202/2 from its 20 overs.
In reply, Blackcaps captain Williamson gave Sunrisers a chance of victory, putting on 58 for the first wicket with Abhishek Sharma (39).
But from 58/0, Hyderabad lost regular wickets to be 88/3, with Williamson unable to forge another partnership of note with his teammates.
Fellow Blackcap Mitchell Santner chipped in with the ball for Chennai, removing South African batter Aiden Markram for 17 - caught at wide long-on by Ravindra Jadeja.
With a half-century in his sights, Williamson fell for 47, out leg before wicket to South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorious.
And as their captain departed, any realistic chance of victory went for Williamson and his team.
West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran starred with a quickfire cameo of 64 not out from just 33 balls batting at No.5, but ultimately his knock went down in vain.
Needing a mathematically impossible 38 runs from the last over, Pooran struck 24 to add some shade of respectability to the scorecard, even if his side fell 13 runs shy of their target at 189/6 after 20 overs.
Victory keeps Chennai's slim hopes of reaching this year's IPL playoffs alive, with three wins and six losses from their first nine matches, sitting ninth on the ladder.
Hyderabad meanwhile sit fourth, with five wins and four defeats for 10 points, sitting inside the IPL's top four courtesy of net run rate.
