[1]New Delhi: Trinidad & Tobago handed Chennai Super Kings a humiliating eight-wicket loss in the evening game here on Wednesday to enter the semifinals of CLT20 in emphatic style after finishing at top of Group `B'. Chasing 119 for a win, the West Indian side's batsmen made light of the CSK attack, cruising home in 15.1 overs.
CSK's big loss pushes them to the second spot in the table and they will have face Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, where the hosts have an impeccable record. T&T will face Mumbai Indians in the second semifinal on Saturday. Chasing a below-par total, T&T openers Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis gave them a smooth start, raising 45 in the powerplay. Simmons continued to enjoy a good day in office, contributing the majority of runs in the 79-run stand for the opening wicket. He fell for 63, when the target was just three runs away.
Earlier, T&T delivered a disciplined performance, bowling out Chennai for just 118 in 19.4 overs in the last league game of the League. Chennai, whose bats men were key to their three successive wins in Ranchi, failed to rise to the occasion. Raina (38), opener Murali Vijay (27) and skipper M.S. Dhoni (25) were the only notable contributors for CSK.
Rayad Emrit (3/21) led the bowling charge for T&T and was well supported by Ravi Rampaul and Lendl Simmons, each bagging two wickets. Rampaul gave T&T an early breakthrough, getting rid of an in-form Michael Hussey in the second over with only seven runs on board.
But Vijay, who was showing good rhythm at the other end, and Raina negated that early advantage taking the team total to 49 for 1 at the end of six overs. The 55-run second wicket stand was broken by Simmons as Vijay pulled one back onto his stumps in the ninth over.
BRIEF SCORES: Chennai Super Kings 118 in 19.4 overs (Suresh Raina 38, Rayad Emrit 3/21, Lendl Simmons 2/10, Ravi Rampaul 2/31) lost to Trinidad & Tobago 119/2 in 15.1 overs (Lendl Simmons 63, Evin Lewis 38, Suresh Raina 1/16).
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/cricket129jpg-800