Suresh Raina eased Chennai Super Kings' way into a third final in four IPL tournaments, swinging his way to a match-winning 73 not out (50b, 4x4, 6x6) as the defending champion won by six wickets in the DLF-IPL-IV first qualifier at the Wankhede here on Tuesday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore found the early stranglehold exerted by bowlers slipping away as Albie Morkel joined in the fun, leaping in delight after hitting the winning runs. CSK chased down 175 with just two balls to spare on a night of big hitting.
Man-of-the-match Raina teamed up with Badrinath in a 63-run stand for the third wicket to infuse life into the CSK chase after Zaheer Khan had claimed openers Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay. The left-hander crumbled to the turf with cramps, then got up and went about smashing the bowlers all over the field. Kohli's smile turned into a scowl after conceding 16 runs in his second over and Mithun looked on helplessly as 23 runs were stolen off his third over.
Consistent Badrinath
Badrinath enhanced his reputation as a run-machine, rattling up 34 off 32 balls faced with a slew of fluent drives and audacious shots. Dhoni entered the battle at 70 for three in the 11th over and kept finding spaces for forceful drives.
Though Vettori and Gayle came on to check the run flow, Raina and Dhoni went on firing away, putting away anything in range to take the score within striking range. Even when Vettori turned to Zaheer for damage control, the CSK duo kept firing away without missing a beat to steal 20 runs off the India strike bowler's fourth over.
The CSK left-hander lashed four boundaries and four sixes to cross the half-century mark off 44 balls as the pair put on 61 runs off 35 balls before the captain departed during the no-holds barred assault.
Morkel took up the baton, with 45 runs needed, to heave two sixes off Aravind and Raina swatted a huge six in the 19th over as the play-off headed for a thrilling climax.
With 12 runs required off six balls, Vettori brought himself on. Morkel smashed one boundary past mid-wicket, ran singles hard and pulled CSK past the tape with a six off the fourth ball.
Earlier, Ashwin was held back till the fourth over by Dhoni. Gayle, who could not contain his patience after blocking the off-spinner's first ball, swatted the second over mid-wicket. But he fell for the bait immediately.
The breakthrough delivery, pitched on leg-stump, skidded after pitching to hit Gayle's front pad below the knee roll after the West Indian failed in his attempt to sweep. The off-spinner roared in joy when umpire Simon Taufel upheld the appeal.
Meanwhile, young opener Mayank Agarwal flexed his muscles against the pace bowlers. He quickly got into position and hit on the rise against Morkel and Bollinger. He stepped out to clear long-off twice effortlessly, showcasing power in his arms for 34 off 33 balls (5x4).
Bravo preyed on the young opener's anxiety to cash in by stepping out and shortened the length. Bollinger on the fence did his part coolly as the ball soared high towards the floodlights. Murali Vijay then kept his nerve on the ropes at long-on to pouch a heave from A.B. de Villiers.
At the other end, Virat Kohli, who took charge in the fourth over, kept his focus on rotating strike and punished the bowlers.
Pomersbach stepped in to strike lusty blows, displaying his value as a hard-hitter (29, 18b, 2x4, 2x6). The left-handed Aussie used the bounce off the track for back-to-back shots against Bravo. A delicate cut past Dhoni to third man and then a brutal pull left the fielders keeping track of the ball flying over their heads. However, Bollinger's persistence paid off when Pomersbach swung and missed.
Then Ashwin was escorted off the field, somewhat disoriented, after a shot from Saurabh Tiwary caught the off-spinner on the head.
Kohli matched Tiwary's assault with forceful strokes down the straight in a 42-run stand. Two sixes off Morkel in the penultimate over showcased his form in an unbeaten knock of 70, laced with five fours and three sixes. RCB's top-scorer walked off with head held high, proving once again that the team's high expectations from him were not misplaced.
Scoreboard
RCB:
M Agarwal c Bollinger b Bravo 34 (33b, 5x4)
C Gayle lbw b Ashwin 8 (9b, 1x6)
V Kohli (not out) 70 (44b, 5x4, 3x6)
A B de Villiers c Vijay b Jakati 11 (10b, 1x6)
L Pomersbach b Bollinger 29 (18b, 2x4, 1x6)
S Tiwary (not out) 9 (6b, 1x6)
Extras (b2, lb7, w5) 14. Total (four wkts, 20 overs) 175
Fall of wkts: 1-30, 2-65, 3-85, 4-133
CSK bowling
A Morkel 4-0-40-0
D Bollinger 4-0-20-1
R Ashwin 4-0-33-1
D Bravo 3-0-28-1
S Jakati 4-0-37-1
S Raina 1-0-8-0
CSK:
M Hussey lbw b Zaheer 0 (4b)
M Vijay lbw b Aravind 5 (5, 1x4)
S Raina (no) 73 (50 balls, 4x4, 6x6)
S Badrinath c Aravind b Mithun 34 (32b, 5x4)
M Dhoni c Mithun b Zaheer 29 (19b, 3x4, 1x6)
A Morkel (no) 28 (10b, 1x4, 3x6)
Extras (b1, lb1, nb2, w4) 8. Total (four wkts, 19.4 overs) 177
Fall of wkts: 1-3, 2-7, 3-70, 4-131
RCB bowling
Z Khan 4-0-31-2
S Aravind 3-0-31-1
A Mithun 3-0-32-1
V Kohli 2-0-19-0
D Vettori 3.4-0-42-0
C Gayle 4-0-19-0
