Sat, Sep 25 10 03:22 AM
Durban, Sep 24 (PTI) Suresh Raina''s unbeaten 48-ball 94, followed by a clinical bowling display helped Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 51 runs and qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 final, here today. Opting to bat, Chennai rode on an 81-run second-wicket partnership between Raina and Murali Vijay to post an imposing 174 for four after a long rain-interruption reduced the match to a 17-over-a-side affair. Vijay also made a 32-ball 41. The Indian Premier League champions then came out with a disciplined bowling performance and restricted Bangalore to 123 in 16.2 overs as Manish Pandey''s fighting 52 off 44 balls went in vain. Paceman Doug Bollinger scalped three wickets for 27 runs, while Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan bagged two for 38. Chennai thus became the first Indian Premier League side to enter the summit stage of the show-piece event and now take on the winner of the second semifinal between South Australia and Warriors. Chasing 175 to win, Bangalore were off to a wobbly start as they lost two quick wickets in the form of experienced Rahul Dravid (0) and Robin Uthappa (4) in the second and third over respectively. Dravid''s mistimed drive off left-arm pacer Bollinger went aloft and Albie Morkel tumbled forward to pouch a nice catch. Morkel then struck in the next over when he got some away movements. Uthappa came forward half-heartedly and finally gave an easy catch to Vijay. RCB''s New Zealander import Ross Taylor then decided to take an attacking strategy and cracked a superb four off Bollinger in the fourth over, but the bowler took revenge in the very next ball. Taylor went for an ambitious pull on backfoot but failed to connect it properly and Vijay took another easy catch. Virat Kohli (14) then returned to the dugout leaving RCB struggling at 37 for four. Kohli tried to flick from the leg stump but played the Lakshmipathy Balaji slower a bit early and Ravichandran Ashwin took a diving catch at midwicket. Cameron White (13) and Dillon du Preez (1) also failed to give company for long to Pandey, who was waging a solitary battle on the other end. Pandey cracked four fours and two sixes before Bollinger bowled him out in the 14th over. After his departure, Chennai did not have much trouble to skittle out Bangalore. .
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