DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – Suresh Raina produced a scintillating innings to fire Chennai Super Kings into the final of the Champions League Twenty20, with a convincing 74-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore yesterday.
The attacking left-hander smashed an unbeaten 94 as Chennai raced to 174 for four off 17 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat in the rain-affected encounter at Kingsmead.
In reply, Australian left-arm seamer Doug Bollinger snatched three for 27 including the crucial wickets of Rahul Dravid for a first ball duck and the dangerous Ross Taylor for four, as Royal Challengers tumbled to 123 all out off 16.2 overs.
Only opener Manish Pandey 52 showed any resistance as Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan (2-38) helped to wrap up the tail.
There was no spectacular start for Chennai as they lost prolific opener Michael Hussey at 19 in the fourth over, after the left-hander had dithered 12 balls over six.
Raina then took over, erasing any thoughts Royal Challengers’ bowlers had of limiting Chennai to a small total.
He hammered five fours and six sixes off 48 balls in a punishing 81-run, second wicket stand off 48 balls with Murali Vijay (41) in a partnership that swung the game Chennai’s way.
Raina then added another 33 off 13 balls for the third wicket with captain MS Dhoni (11) and another 37 for the fourth wicket with Albie Morkel (5)
Bollinger and pace partner Morkel then made early inroads to leave Royal Challengers tottering on 12 for three in the fourth over, a situation they never recovered from despite Pandey’s knock.
