PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, CMC – Chennai Super Kings handed Warriors of South Africa their first loss yesterday as both teams advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 at the expense of Victoria Bushrangers.
Batting first after winning the toss and St George’s Park, Chennai chalked up 136 for six off their allotted 20 overs and then limited the Warriors to 126 for eight.
The result meant that Chennai, Warriors and Victoria finished on six points in Group A but Chennai and Warriors advanced to the final four on virtue of superior net run rates.
Australian Mike Hussey stroked 50 from 39 balls with four fours and a six as he posted 63 for the first wicket with Murali Vijay whose 35 came from 27 balls and included three fours and two sixes.
Captain MS Dhoni hammered an unbeaten 31 from 21 balls in the middle order to sustain the tempo for Chennai as fast bowler Justin Kreusch claimed three for 19.
Opener and captain Davy Jacobs then hit a patient 32 from 31 balls and Mark Boucher and Kreusch both scored 25, to lead Warriors’ reply.
Their progress was too slow to bother Chennai, however, and the innings lost momentum when it was most needed.
They were restricted by off-spinners Ravi Ashwin (3-24) and Muttiah Muralitharan (2-19) who were the leading wicket-takers.
