CHENNAI: Morali Vijay’s stunning innings of 127 from just 55 balls helped the Chennai Super Kings record a 23 run victory over the Rajasthan Royals on a stifling hot day inside the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

The Rajasthan Royals bowlers suffered an horrific day conceding 246 runs as they were dispatched for 19 fours and an incredible 17 sixes as Shane Warne’s bowlers were spared no mercy as Vijay (127) helped the Super Kings score the highest ever total in the history of the Indian Premier League.

Faced with such a large run chase the Royals got off to a positive with Michael Lumb and Naman Ojha building a first wicket partnership of 69 before Lumb (37) was caught out on the boundary by Srikkanth Anirudha at the start of the 7th over.

Yusuf Pathan (4) followed four balls later to give Morkel his second wicket of the over thanks to a wonderful catch by Doug Bollinger out at long on to leave the Royals 80-2.

Bollinger caught the ball just as he stepped out of bounds but he had the composure to toss the ball into the air allowing him time to step back across the boundary to take the catch at the second attempt.

The loss of a big hitter such as Pathan could have left the Royals disheartened but Ojha continued his attempts at chasing down the Super Kings total supported by Shane Watson.

The pair’s partnership of 97 gave the Royals a small chance of victory but when Watson (60) was bowled by Bollinger the Super Kings could start to celebrate the victory.

Despite the lost cause Ojha continued his excellent innings to end the game 94 not out.

Having won the toss the Super Kings got off to a sensational start thanks to Vijay who launched a brutal blitz on the Royals bowlers in the searing heat to give Warne lots to worry about.

Vijay attacked Sumit Narwal in the second over of the innings smashing the young bowler for 15 runs including a huge six over mid wicket before smashing Yusuf Pathan straight down the pitch into the sight screen.

Matthew Hayden, who had been watching from the non strikers end, got into the action dispatching Shane Watson for a towering six over midwicket as the Super Kings raced past 50 in just 29 balls.

More carnage followed in the 5th over as Hayden (34) smashed 3 consecutive boundaries off the bowling of Shrikant Wagh before the Aussie smashed a wide delivery straight to Watson at extra cover.

With a high score looking possible on a perfect batting surface Suresh Raina (13) departed cheaply after being caught by Shaun Tait to give Warner the wicket.

The lost of Raina brought Albie Morkel to the crease to partner Vijay and the pair produced one of the best partnerships seen during this years tournament.

Vijay and Morkel built a partnership of 152 which included a stunning spell were they smashed Pathan for 22 runs, Tait for 19 runs and then Narwal for 26 runs which included 4 sixes as the pair run riot in the space of 18 balls.

Morkel (62) was dismissed in the final over along with Vijay and MS Dhoni (0) as the Super Kings reached an amazing 246-5 to set the Royals a difficult run chase of 247.