Champions League T20 KXIP vs CSK: Chennai enter final with thumping win over Punjab

Kings XI Punjab batting came a cropper as Chennai Super Kings barged into the final registering a dominating 65-run victory in Hyderabad.

The MS Dhoni-led team will meet Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.

Needing 183 to win, Punjab batsmen fell like a pack of cards that began with Vireder Sehwag.

From one for three, Punjab were tottering at four for 24 and then six for 36.

They could never recover from the situation with Ashish Nehra, Mohit Sharma and Suresh Raina claiming two wickets each as they were shot out for a mere 117 in 18. 2 overs.

Earlier, Dwayne Bravo cracked a superb 39-ball 67 while Faf du Plessis smashed 46 from 33 balls as Chennai Super Kings posted 182 for seven in 20 overs.

The score could have further gone high but thanks to a brilliant bowling performance from Parvinder Awana who put brakes on the run flow.

He claimed four wickets including a hat-trick during his four over while Akshar Patel picked up two.

KINGS XI PUNJAB INNINGS

That's a tame end to a batting unit that had made news all the while. Punjab all out for 117 in 18.2 overs to give Chennai a brilliant 65-run victory.

Anureet Singh c Raina b Jadeja 16 (10b 0x4 2x6)

That's another one for Raina as Awana offers a simple catch to Du Plessis. KXIP 90-9 in 14.4 overs.

Pawan Awana c du Plessis b Raina 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

A low ball from Raina removes Patel's stumps as Chennai look all set to make a thumping entry to the final. KXIP 90-8 in 14.2 overs.

Akshar Patel b Raina 31 (18b 4x4 1x6)

Miller was doing well before Ashwin ended his run. It's a uphill task for Punjab now. KXIP 61-7 in 10.2 overs.

David Miller b Ashwin 22 (14b 2x4 1x6)

Nothing going in favour of Punjab today as they further slip to 34-6 in 7.3 overs. Perera is gone for a duck to give Negi his second wicket.

Thisara Perera c Bravo b Negi 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

It's looking to be all over for Punjab as Bailey also succumbs. Another easy catch to Negi of his own bowling. KXIP 34-5 in 7.1 overs.

George Bailey c & b Negi 6 (6b 1x4 0x6)

Punjab need somebody to fire as they require another 149 from 78 balls. KXIP 34-4 in 7 overs.

Chennai completely dominating the proceedings here as Punjab lose another wicket. Vohra offers a high catch and Du Plessis gets it perfectly. KXIP 24-4 in 5.3 overs.

Manan Vohra c du Plessis b Sharma 16 (17b 2x4 0x6)

Punjab in trouble as the big hitting Maxwell departs to give Nehra his second wicket. He has been out of form in the CLT20. KXIP 24-3 in 5 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c †Dhoni b Nehra 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Punjab lose another as Saha gets it completely wrong to be bowled by Nehra. KXIP 24-2 in 4.2 overs.

Wriddhiman Saha b Nehra 6 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Chennai bowlers doing a great job with fielders keeping up the pressure. KXIP 14-1 in 3 overs.

Big blow for Punjab early in the innings as Sehwag goes. Credit to McCullum for taking a stunning low catch at point. Was referred to the third umpire and it was a clean catch. KXIP 3-1 in 1.4 overs.

Virender Sehwag c McCullum b Sharma 0 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Sehwag was almost gone there if Bravo had got a direct hit at the stumps. Sehwag wanted a quick one there. KXIP 2-0 in 1 over.

Sehwag and Vohra open for Punjab. Nehra to bowl for Chennai.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS

Jadeja keeps the pressure going as he gets a six and a boundary in the final over to ensure Chennai have a fine total. CSK 182-7 in 20 overs.

A superb knock from Bravo comes to an end. Maxwell takes the catch after he had dropped him early in the innings. CSK 160-7 in 18.3 overs.

Dwayne Bravo c Maxwell b Patel 67 (39b 7x4 3x6)

Superb bowling from Awana comes to an end as he gives away 30 runs in his four overs claiming four important wickets including a hat-trick. CSK 147-6 in 17 overs.

Awana is on cloud nine. He picks another top wicket to remove Dhoni in the very next ball. Dhoni offers a simple catch to mid wicket. CSK 141-6 in 16.2 overs.

MS Dhoni c Karanveer Singh b Awana 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Awana gets his third wicket as he bowls Negi. He is on a roll as Dhoni walks in to a huge reception from the crowd. CSK 141-5 in 16.1 overs.

Pawan Negi b Awana 8 (5b 0x4 1x6)

Bravo gets 17 runs of Perera's over to give Chennai a good charge. He is batting on 47 from just 28 balls. CSK 129-4 in 15 overs.

Du Plessis unlucky there having missed his half century by just four runs. Punjab happy with the wicket as the partnership was building on dangerously. CSK 106-4 in 13.4 overs.

Faf du Plessis b Patel 46 (33b 5x4 1x6)

A big over for Chennai. 14 runs coming off it. Two boundaries from Bravo while Du Plessis gets one as their partnership reaches 46 in 36 balls. CSK 87-3 in 12 overs.

Punjab hold the edge half way through Chennai innings. This partnership will be important for Chennai. CSK 65-3 in 10 overs.

Du Plessis and Bravo do the revival act as they steadily build a crucial partnership. CSK 55-3 in 8 overs.

Awana is emerging the star here as he gets the big wicket of Raina. He was looking good but his attempt to pull is taken quickly by Bailey at short midwicket. CSK 41-3 in 6 overs.

Suresh Raina c Bailey b Awana 6 (5b 1x4 0x6)

Chennai in trouble as they lose another quick wicket. McCullum's pull does not get the distance as he offers a simple catch to Awana at deep midwicket. CSK 29-2 in 4.2 overs.

Brendon McCullum c Awana b Perera 6 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Raina gets cracking as soon as he arrives. Gets a fine boundary through the covers. CSK 29-1 in 4 overs.

A great delivery from Awana as Smith is bowled. Looked like the ball kept a tad low. CSK 23-1 in 3.2 overs. 

Dwayne Smith b Awana 14 (14b 2x4 0x6)

Smith on 12 while McCullum is batting on 6. CSK 21-0 in 3 overs.

Steady start from the openers. CSK 14-0 in 2 overs

Smith steers Singh past backward point for the first boundary of the match. CSK 6-0 in 1 over.

Anureet Singh opens the attack for Punjab.

Chennai have been put into bat after Dhoni called wrong and Punjab won the toss.

KXIP are unchanged.

Faf du Plessis returns for CSK in place of John Hastings, while Pawan Negi is in for Mithun Manhas.

PLAYING XI

KXIP: Manan Vohra, Virender Sehwag, Wriddhiman Saha, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, George Bailey, Mitchell Johnson, Akshar Patel, Karanveer Singh, Anureet Singh, Parvinder Awana

CSK: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pawan Negi, Mhot Sharma, Ashish Nehra

PREVIEW

Expect a cracker of a contest when two powerful Indian Premier League teams - Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab - take on each other in the second semifinals of the Champions League Twenty20 at Hyderabad.

Chennai, led by a dominant MS Dhoni, are a formidable side but have not been at their best during this tournament while Punjab have had a great outing especially with their batting unit looking in great shape. The result will be very likely determined by the batsmen of both the teams.

In the bowling department, Chennai will rely on the spinners to deliver the goods while Punjab have a better pace attack backed by decent spinners.
 

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