CLT20: Super Kings book semifinal spot

Chennai Super Kings, looking far from convincing, still carried enough firepower to get past Perth Scorchers by 13 runs Saturday to book a berth in the semi-finals of the Oppo Champions League T20 tournament.

Asked to bat first, the Super Kings struggled initially until skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35, 16b, 4x6) and Ravindra Jadeja (44 not out, 28b, 4x4, 2x6) rescued the innings with a highly entertaining partnership for the fifth wicket that helped them make 155 for six.

In reply, the Scorchers could barely make headway and could manage only 142 for seven with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claiming three wickets while seamer Ashish Nehra was equally impressing, coming away with two wickets.

The victory, their second in four matches, took Super Kings tally to 10 as they finished behind Kolkata Knight Riders in Group A while Scorchers remained on four from three outings and in third behind Lahore Lions who earlier beat cellar-dwellers Dolphins by 16 runs.

During their chase, the Scorchers could neither put together a big partnership nor any of their batsmen stayed long enough to guide the team to victory.

Losing wickets at regular intervals, the Perth team stumbled with big-hitter Nathan Coulter-Nile (30) being the top scorer. As for the rest, no batsman could really collar the bowling, like Dhoni and Jadeja did earlier.

Ashwin struck the decisive blows when he got rid of the dangerous Mitchell Marsh (19) and Sam Whiteman (5) in consecutive overs to virtually signal the end of the Scorchers' challenge.

The Super Kings innings was all about swing and miss, and stop-go as the Scorchers kept the batting might of the Chennai team on a short leash, courtesy some brilliant bowling by their spinners, notably Brad Hogg who though picked up just one wicket, tied the batsmen in knots.

In fact, none of the top-order Super Kings batsmen showed any conviction in their strokeplay and the exit of openers Brendon McCullum (11) and Dwayne Smith (11), and Suresh Raina (1) weighed down the innings.

Dwayne Bravo (27) and Mithun Manhas (18), playing his first game, somewhat steadied the ship, but their exit in quick time left Super Kings tottering on 79 for five in the 15th over.

The situation was tailor-made for a Dhoni blitz with Jadeja joining in as the duo put up a rollicking partnership of 64 runs for the sixth wicket to help Super Kings put up a decent total.

Dhoni and then Jadeja delivered some lusty blows while smashing seamer Yasir Arafat for 24 runs in an over which proved decisive as the Super Kings crossed the 150-mark.

Brief scores:

Chennai Super Kings 155 for 6 in 20 overs (Dwayne Bravo 27, Ravindra Jadeja 44 not out, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 35) Perth Scorchers 142 for 7 in 20 overs (Nathan Coulter-Nile 30, Mitchell Marsh 19)