JAIPUR, India, CMC-Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Kevin Cooper played an exciting cameo role as Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs to storm into the finals of the Champions League T20 yesterday.
Rajasthan posted 159 for eight wickets but had gotten off to a shaky start with Rahul Dravid falling early to Morris at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
But in a surprise move, Cooper came out next, as the crowd was treated to the rare sight of a pinch-hitter in a Twenty20 match.
The move nearly came off, but Cooper, who scored 14 from seven balls, was consumed by a Mohit Sharma slower ball after taking the bowler for a six and two fours.
Royals semi-final win also rode on a half-century from Ajinkya Rahane and a game changing three wicket haul from Pravin Tambe.
A rearguard action from R Ashwin (46 off 28) and Chris Morris (26 not out off 16) took Chennai close, but they finished on 145 for 8.
Earlier, Cooper’s Trinidadian counterpart Dwayne Bravo led the bowling for Chennai taking three for 26.
Bravo stuck to a full leg-stump line that and showed remarkable discipline in never straying too far down.
Royals will play the winner of today’s second semi-final match between Trinidad and Tobago and Mumbai Indians.