DELHI, India, CMC-Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis and Rayad Emrit played key roles as Trinidad and Tobago crushed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets to claim a decisive victory and cement their spot in the Champions League Twenty20 semi-finals today.
Simmons top-scored with a 41-ball 63 while left-hander Lewis made 38 off 35 balls as Trinidad hammered a tournament favourite to breeze home with 29 deliveries to spare.
He clobbered four sixes and five fours including 17 runs in an over from Ravindra Jadeja while adding 79 runs with Lewis to ensure an easy victory.
Simmons , who was named man-of the match , came into the game on the back of two ducks but also contributed with the ball taking two wickets for ten runs in two overs.
He was also involved in removing the Super Kings captain MS Dhoni in the 17th over when he top-edged an attempted big hit and the ball swirled towards him at long-off.
The Trinidad all-rounder settled under the ball which bounced off his palm and onto his neck before grabbing it on the second attempt.
The Red Force will play Mumbai Indians in the second semi-final at Kotla on Saturday, a day after Chennai take on Rajasthan in Jaipur.
Their stunning victory over high flying CSK allowed them to top the league table and gain direct entry into the semi finals.
Earlier, CSK who had already booked their place in the semi-finals, were bowled out for 118 in 19.4 overs in the face of a relentless attack from Rayad Emrit, Lendl Simmons and Ravi Rampaul.
Opener Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina played a key role in putting up a modest total after the early dismissal of Michael Hussey.
Raina anchored the innings, dominating a 55-run stand for the second wicket with Vijay before the mighty collapse.
Raina made a 29-ball 38 with three boundaries and a six while Vijay contributed with 27 runs.
Chennai’s hope of putting up a fight vanished once Dhoni was dismissed leaving his team wallowing at 106 for seven.
Pacer Emrit was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 21 runs while Rampaul and Simmons grabbed two wickets apiece.
Sunil Narine, did not take a wicket but was very economical and kept the pressure from the other end.
