DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – Openers Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris smashed half-centuries as the South Australia Redbacks crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore by nine wickets to romp into the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 yesterday.
Klinger scored an unbeaten 69 from 57 balls while Harris reeled off 57 from 38 balls to lift South Australia to 155 for one, overhauling Royal Challengers’ 154 all out off 19.5 overs at Kingsmead.
Chasing a tricky target, Klinger and Harris got South Australia away to a flier as they added a pulsating 124 from 86 balls for the first wicket.
The right-handed Klinger smashed nine fours and a six in his knock while Harris cracked seven fours and two sixes before falling by the run out route in the 15th over with victory in sight.
Callum Ferguson, who has played 25 One-Day Internationals for Australia, added an unbeaten 21from 14 balls to help formalize the result. Earlier, Royal Challengers recovered from seven for two in the second over, thanks to Ross Taylor and Dillon du Preez who both scored 46
.
Opting to bat first, they lost Manish Pandey (4) and Robin Uthappa (0) before Taylor posted 46 for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid (4), striking eight fours and one six off 28 balls.
Du Preez, whose knock contained four sixes and a four off 25 balls, then added another 58 for the sixth wicket with Praveen Kumar (6) to keep Royal Challengers competitive.
