CLT20: Rajasthan Royals defeat Chennai Super Kings to reach finals

With the fall of wickets at regular intervals, Ajinkya Rahane remained solid at the other end

Rajasthan Royals, riding on a half-century from Ajinkya Rahane and a game changing three wicket haul from Pravin Tambe, swept Chennai Super Kings away in the first semi-final match of the Champions League T20 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Defending 160, Royals were coasting towards an easy win after reducing Super Kings to 72/7 in 12.3 overs, but a spirited late fight back from the visitors led by Ravichandran Ashwin’s counterattacking 28-ball 46 saw them fall agonizingly short by 14 runs.

Earlier in the day, winning the toss, Super Kings’ captain MS Dhoni opted to chase on a good batting surface. Both the teams had made one change each to their side, with Chris Morris replacing Albie Morkel for Super Kings and Dishant Yagnik replacing Ashok Menaria for Royals.

Royals were jolted early in the chase as Rahul Dravid‘s disappointing form continued and their experimentation with Kevon Cooper, who was promoted to number 3, failed to leave them at 29/2 at the end of four overs.

It took a 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket, between Ajinkya Rahane and Shane Watson, for the Royals to find their feet after the dismissal of Sanju Samson.

With the score at 121/4 in 15 overs and Rahane, who had gone past his fifty, and Watson, on 32, at the crease, Royals looked well set to up the ante.

But as it turned out, Super Kings pegged back the Rahul Dravid led outfit, courtesy of some surprisingly good performance with the ball at the death, to restrict them to a below-par score of 159 runs in their 20 overs.

Chris Morris started Royals’ downfall by dismissing Watson for 32, who in an attempt to slog a full length delivery towards the mid-wicket region only managed an edge that flew to the fielder at cover, and Jason Holder added to the visitors’ woes by cleaning up Brad Hodge, who missed a over-pitched delivery while trying to hit for a maximum.

Bravo picked up three wickets in his last over including that of Rahane, whose 56-ball 70 ensured that the home team had given themselves something to defend.

In reply, Super Kings were off to a frenetic start, losing both their openers early in the chase to run outs. Murali Vijay had himself to blame for both the dismissals.

Soon, the visitors found themselves in a deep rut with all of Subramaniam Badrinath, stumped of Pravin Tambe, MS Dhoni, trapped in front by an out-swinger from Rahul Shukla, and Dwayne Bravo, declared lbw to Tambe, back in the hut. The scoreboard read 61/5 in 10.5 overs.

Watson accounted for Ravindra Jadeja as Tambe got rid of the final nail in the coffin by sending back Suresh Raina for a 23-ball 29. The 41-year old’s figures read 4-0-10-3, an astonishing spell that sealed the fate of the match.

Even with a stunning 73-run partnership off just 42 deliveries for the eight wicket between Ravichandran Ashwin and Morris, Super Kings fell short by 14 runs.