Chennai Super Kings’ chances of a semifinal berth in the Champions League T20 suffered a blow as it slumped to its second consecutive defeat in the tournament with a six-wicket loss at the hands of Highveld Lions here on Tuesday.
After being sent into bat, Chennai posted a challenging 158 for six, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni top-scoring with 34, but the Lions chased down the target with three balls to spare in a thrilling Group B match that went down to the wire at Newlands.
Opener Gulam Bodi smashed a 46-ball 64 to play a big role in Lions’ win. The local side is now in a very good position to make it to the semifinals having beaten defending champion Mumbai Indians in its opening match.
Chennai, which lost to Sydney Sixers in its opener, squandered a sensational start in defence of 158. Pacer Doug Bollinger (two for 18) picked up two quick wickets to reduce the Lions to eight for two in the third over, but Chennai allowed the local side to wriggle out of a tight spot and eventually win the match.
Super Kings will now have to win both its remaining matches to stand any chance of making it to the last four.
Bodi and Neil McKenzie (32) shared a 93-run stand for the third wicket from 9.5 overs to turn the tide in favour of the Lions. The Lions needed 51 from the last five overs and 20 from the last two overs and did it in style by reaching 159 for four with three balls to spare.
For Chennai, Ashwin and Albie Morkel took a wicket each and Bollinger claimed two.
The scores:
Chennai Super Kings: F. du Plessis c Phangiso b Morris 25, M. Vijay lbw b Phangiso 22, S. Raina c Petersen b de Bruyn 20, M.S. Dhoni c Symes b Tanvir 34, R. Jadeja c Symes b Phangiso 21, A. Morkel c Tsolekile b Nannes 4, S. Badrinath (not out) 27, W. Saha (not out) 0; Extras (lb-3, w-2) 5; Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 158.
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-69, 3-70, 4-102, 5-106, 6-156.
Lions bowling: Tanvir 4-0-36-1, Nannes 4-0-46-1, Morris 4-1-24-1, Phangiso 4-0-17-2, Symes 2-0-14-0, de Bruyn 2-0-18-1.
Highveld Lions: A. Petersen lbw b Bollinger 0, G. Bodi c Dhoni b Morkel 64, Q. de Kock c Dhoni b Bollinger 5, N. McKenzie c Raina b Ashwin 32, J. Symes (not out) 39, C. Morris (not out) 12; Extras (b-1, lb-4, nb-2): 7; Total (for four wkts. in 19.3 overs): 159.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-8, 3-101, 4-115.
Super Kings bowling: Bollinger 4-0-18-2, Hilfenhaus 4-0-25-0, Morkel 3.3-0-35-1, Jadeja 3-0-20-0, Ashwin 4-0-42-1, du Plessis 1-0-14-0.
Keywords: Champions League Twenty20
