Champions League T20 Final KKR vs CSK: Chennai win as Raina ton blows away Kolkata

Suresh Raina played a spectacular innings to score an unbeaten century as Chennai Super Kings trounced Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets to emerge champions in the Champions League T20 in Bangalore.

Chasing a target of 181 to win, Chennai had only one bad moment when they lost Dwayne Smith (8) early.

But once Raina arrived there was nothing to look back on as he tore apart the Kolkata bowlers to score a fine 109 not out from 62 deliveries including six boundaries and eight sixes.

He also shared a century stand with Brendon McCullum who played an unlikely subdued innings scoring 39 runs from 30 deliveries.

Skipper MS Dhoni gave the finishing touches slamming two sixes off Yusuf Pathan in the penultimate over as Chennai sailed past the target comfortably.

Earlier, skipper Gautam Gambhir smashed a fine 80 from only 52 deliveries including seven boundaries and three sixes as Kolkata Knight Riders achieved 180 for six in 20 overs.

Gambhir shared a fine 91-run stand with Robin Uthappa, who scored 32-ball 39.

Manish Pandey chipped in with a 19-ball 32 including two boundaries and as many sixes before Pawan Negi bowled a deadly spell to claim five wickets to slow Kolkata's run flow.

Yusuf Pathan smashed a eight-ball 19 to ensure Kolkata had a fine total. 

Brendon McCullum c ten Doeschate b Pathan 39 (30b 4x4 1x6)

It's all going easy for Chennai with Raina playing an amazing knock. He and McCullum share a century partnership with Raina scoring 65 out of it. CSK 111-1 in 12 overs.

Raina scores half century in just 27 balls including three boundaries and four sixes. CSK 90-1 in 10 overs.

Raina is making the chase look easy. Chennai still need 98 from 66 runs but with nine wickets in hand it should not be a big task. CSK 83-1 in 9 overs.

Raina races to 31 from 15 deliveries hammering two sixes off Chawla while McCullum is taking it easy scoring 20 from 16 balls. CSK 60-1 in 6 overs.

Misfield twice from Surya gave McCullum two boundaries as Yadav concedes 13 runs in the over. CSK 47-1 in 5 overs.

Raina and McCullum going steady for the moment. They need to ensure they don't lose wickets early on. CSK 26-1 in 3 overs. 

Kolkata strike early after Smith had made a rousing start cracking two boundaries. Cummins begins well. CSK 9-1 in 0.5 overs.

Dwayne Smith b Cummins 8 (5b 2x4 0x6)

Smith and McCullum open for Chennai as Cummins prepares to bowl for Kolkata. 

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS

Another one for Negi as he claims a five-for. He is bowling beautifully to end Yadav for a duck. KKR 161-6 in 18.5 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav c Nehra b Negi 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) 

Negi is on a roll here as he claims another big wickett. He bowls a wide but ensures Dhoni does the stumping without any problems. KKR 161-5 in 18.3 overs.

Ryan ten Doeschate st Dhoni b Negi 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Negi does it again as he removes Pandey to claim his third wicket. Pandey did his job scoring 32 from 18 deliveries. KKR 159-4 in 18.1 overs.

Manish Pandey c McCullum b Negi 32 (19b 2x4 2x6) 

Pandey keeps the momentum going for Kolkata as he hammers two successive sixes of Nehra's bowling. KKR 159-3 in 18 overs.

That's the end of a great knock from skipper Gambhir. He has put Kolkata in a fine position after he parts scoring 80. McCullum takes a well-judged high catch to end his run off Jadeja bowling. KKR 136-3 in 16.2 overs.

Gautam Gambhir c McCullum b Jadeja 80 (52b 7x4 3x6) 

A massive over for KKR with 18 runs coming off it. Gambhir inching closer to a very likely century as he reaches 80. KKR 136-2 in 16 overs.

Gambhir continuing to look good as he reaches 68 in 46 deliveries. KKR 118-2 in 15 overs.

Kallis departs without troubling the opponents. Negi looking impressive though has been slightly expensive. KKR 97-2 in 12.1 overs.

Jacques Kallis c Nehra b Negi 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Chennai draw first blood as Uthappa departs after offering an easy catch to Dhoni. KKR 91-1 in 11 overs.

Robin Uthappa st Dhoni b Negi 39 (32b 4x4 1x6)

Gambhir playing some great shots inclcuding his first six. KKR 89-0 in 10 overs.

Uthappa and Gambhir still going strong still maintaining an impressive runrate. They are playing the spinners well. KKR 70-0 in 8 overs.

The 50-run partnership for the opening wicket comes up for Kolkata. They have got the start they wanted and could easily eye a big total. Uthappa and Gambhir batting on 26. KKR 54-0 in 6 overs.

It's smooth sailing for the Kolkata openers. They are maintaining a fine run rate of nine. KKR 36-0 in 4 overs

Both Uthappa and Gambhir look to be settling in scoring a boundary each. 14 runs coming off that over from Sharma. KKR 19-0 in 2 overs.

Uthappa, Gambhir open for Kolkata while Nehra bowls for Chennai.

Chennai win toss and choose to bowl first.

Playing XI:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Suryakumar Yadav, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav

Chennai Super Kings: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pawan Negi, Mohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra

It promises to be an interesting battle when Chennai Super Kings take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the final of the Champions League T20 final at Bengaluru on Saturday.

KKR have been in great shape with their batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa.

But with the absence of their star spinner Sunil Narine, it might be a crucial loss for the Kolkata team.

Chennai have also looked formidable with some great batting performances.

They were in a different league when they overpowered Kings XI Punjab in the semifinals and if they show the same grit, a win for Chennai looks to be a sure thing. 

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