Chennai Super Kings storms into semifinals

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), defending 136, qualified for the semifinals of the Airtel Champions League with a 10-run win over Cape Warriors at the St. George's ground on Wednesday.

In the last-four duels, CSK will meet Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday, while South Australia will take on Warriors on Saturday.

The Warriors, ahead of Victoria on nett run-rate, too made it once it scored 109 during the chase. Off-spinners R. Ashwin (three for 24) and Muttiah Muralitharan (two for 17) were outstanding for CSK. The side's catching in the deep, under pressure, was brilliant.

Michael Hussey was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his strokeful half-century and fielding.

Confident start

The Warriors began confidently before an outstanding, diving catch from Justin Kemp at slip ended Ashwell Prince's innings; off-spinner R. Ashwin had spun the ball away from the left-hander.

Skipper Davey Jacobs (32 off 31 balls) was stroking well when a fine leaping catch by Michael Hussey on the mid-wicket fence saw him walking back. Left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati (CSK played three specialist spinners) had struck.

Colin Ingram holed out in the deep off Suresh Raina's off-spin. With the ball not quite coming on to the bat, CSK defended a moderate target with resolve.

Solid foundation

Earlier, the CSK openers laid a solid foundation after the side elected to bat. Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay put on 63 runs in 8.4 overs. Vijay's 27-ball 35 included forceful strokes through and point and cover and fluent flicks. The opener also freed his arms, striking paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe and left-arm spinner Nicky Boje for sixes over mid-wicket.

Vijay looked good for more when he walked down the track to paceman Justin Kreusch and missed a flick off a fuller ball.

The left-handed Hussey collected runs with typical efficiency, striking the ball into the empty spaces on both sides of the pitch. He was also inventive, reverse-sweeping Boje to the fence and slog-sweeping off-spinner Johan Botha for the maximum.

Gradual slump

However, CSK gradually lost its way. The in-form Suresh Raina was brilliantly held at long-on by Colin Ingram off the nagging Kresusch. Soon, Hussey's innings (50 off 39 balls) came to an end when Botha, from round the wicket, consumed the batsman on the slog-sweep with a quicker, fuller delivery.

And when Badrinath swung across a short-of-a-length delivery coming into him from Kreusch to be bowled, CSK slumped to 99 for four in the 15th over. Kreusch bowled stump-to-stump and seamed the ball.

Botha and paceman Juan Theron shone for the Warriors in the end overs. A fighting Dhoni (31 not out) tore into Tsotsobe in the 19th over with two boundaries and a six but Theron, sending down precise yorkers, bowled a terrific final over. For most part, the Warriors' fielding was brilliant.

The scoreboard:

Chennai Super Kings: M. Hussey b Botha 50 (39b, 4x4, 1x6), M. Vijay b Kreusch 35 (27b, 3x4), S. Raina c Ingram b Kreusch 6 (12b), M.S. Dhoni (not out) 31 (21b, 2x4, 1x6), S. Badrinath b Kreusch 2 (6b), S. Anirudha b Theron 7 (13b), J. Kemp (run out) 0 (1b), R. Ashwin (not out) 1, Extras (lb-4): 4; Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 136.

Fall of wickets: I-63, 2-89, 3-94, 4-99, 5-132, 6-132.

Cape Warriors bowling: Tsotsobe 4-0-41-0, Theron 4-0-16-1, Ntini 2-0-7-0, Boje 2-0-22-0, Kreusch 4-0-19-3, Botha 4-0-27-1.

Cape Warriors: D. Jacobs c Hussey b Jakati 32 (31b, 4x4), A. Prince c Kemp b Ashwin 9 (7b, 2x4), C. Ingram c Badrinath b Raina 17 (24b, 1x4), J. Kreusch st Dhoni b Ashwin 25 (26b, 1x4, 1x6), M. Boucher c Kemp b Ashwin 25 (18b, 1x4, 2x6), C. Thyssen (run out) 1 (2b), J. Botha (not out) 12 (8b, 2x4), N. Boje c Hussey b Muralitharan 1 (2b), J. Theron st Dhoni b Muralitharan 1; Extras (lb-3): 3, Total (for eight wkts in 20 overs) 126.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-48, 3-63, 4-107, 5-112, 6-120, 7-123, 8-126.

CSK bowling: Bollinger 4-0-31-0, Ashwin 4-0-24-3, Kakati 4-0-27-1, Muralitharan 4-0-19-2, Kemp 2-0-1-10-0, Raina 2-0-12-1.

Keywords: Champions Trophy T20, Chennai Super Kings, Cape Warriors