 Chennai Super Kings outclass Kings XI Punjab
1st Jun 2008 08:00 IST
Agencies
Chennai Super Kings drubbed Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets in a lop-sided contest to storm into Sunday's final against table toppers Rajasthan Royals.
After restricting the Punjab side to a meagre 112/8, the Chennai side romped home riding on a second wicket stand of 102 runs between opener Parthiv Patel (51 off 48 balls) and Suresh Raina (55 off 34 balls) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai Saturday night.
The best chance for Kings XI, after putting up a pathetic batting display on winning the toss, was to strike a few early blows.
They managed to dismiss opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (6) cheaply to reduce Chennai to 14/1, but then the left-handed combination of Patel and the more aggressive Raina took control of the proceedings.
They made runs at a comfortable pace and raced past the finish line in 14.5 overs to complete a thumping victory.
Vidyut mistimed a pull off Irfan Pathan and put up a dolly catch to short mid wicket to bring in Raina, included in the Indian ODI team for next month's Bangladesh tri-series and the subsequent Asia Cup.
Raina smashed four sixes on the way to his half century, one of them off James Hopes which went over the roof, besides striking four fours.
The UP batsman carried on his good showing in their last league tie with some attacking shots in the company of only a slightly more sedate Patel, who hit eight fours, and the duo carried on merrily towards the victory target.
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