Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday lavished praise on retired Australian Matthew Hayden and Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan for their efforts in the 92-run win over Bangalore Royal Challengers at Port Elizabeth.

Hayden cracked a 35-ball 65 to set a huge 180-run target for Bangalore and then Muralitharan took three for 11 to crush Kevin Pietersen-led side to help CSK bounce back from opening match defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians.

'That was the kind of start we wanted. (Matthew) Hayden and Parthiv (Patel) set the foundation of the innings. When you have that kind of innings at the top then it becomes easier for the middle order to post or chase a big total,' he said after the match.
     
'After I saw Murali bowl the first ball I knew that he will turn the ball and get wickets. He has lots of deliveries in his arsenal and when the wicket was responding he would be the guy to get wickets for us. It is great to have him in the team,' Dhoni said of Muralitharan.
     
The Chennai skipper said he was happy with the batting of his side but there were areas to improve upon in the bowling and fielding departments.

'I am happy with our batting. Bowling is also doing well but we can improve on that. Fielding also is something we have to improve,' he added.