Champions League

2010 Champions League T20: Chennai Super Kings bt Bangalore Royal Challengers in 1st Semi-Final

The Chennai Super Kings brushed aside the challenge of the Royal Challengers Bangalore to book their place in the Champions League Twenty20 final with a 53-run win in the first semi-final in Durban.

Suresh Raina’s explosive unbeaten 94 guided them to a score of 174 for four in 17 overs after an early interruption due to rain and in reply, the Challengers were bowled out for 123 having been asked to chase a Duckworth/Lewis adjusted target of 176.

Raina hammered five fours and six sixes in a brutal 48-ball innings that propelled the reigning Indian Premier League champions to a winning score.

He was given excellent support by Murali Vijay, who made 41 before Ranganath Vinay Kumar returned two for 28.

The first of his wickets saw Michael Hussey (6) well caught by Dale Steyn, who injured himself in the process and was unable to take any further part in the match.

The Challengers undoubtedly missed him with the ball and they were soon to found short with the bat as Chennai opening bowlers Doug Bollinger (3-27) and Albie Morkel (1-13 in three overs) stifled the run-rate and grabbed early wickets.

Manish Pandey resisted, going on to hit 52 in 44 balls, but he played a lone hand – Praveen Kumar hitting the next best score of 15.

Muttiah Muralitharan also picked up two wickets with Lakshmipathy Balaji the other wicket-taker.

The Super Kings will play the winner of the second semi-final between the Warriors and South Australia.