CLT20 1st semifinal: Rajasthan Royals oust Chennai to enter final

Pravin Tambe bagged three crucial wickets as Rajasthan Royal booked a place in the final defeating Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs in the first semifinals of the Champions League Twenty20 in Jaipur.

None of the batsmen in the top order really clicked, except for Sureh Raina who scored a gritty 29.

After both openers were run out, Tambe claimed the wickets of Raina, Badrinath and Dwayne Bravo as Chennai never recovered after that.

Ravichandran Ashwin (46) and Chris Morris (26) provided some late fireworks sharing a 73-run stand for eighth wickett but it came a little too late as Chennai managed 145 for eight in 20 overs.

Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane smashed a 56-ball 70 while Shane Watson cracked 32 as Rajasthan Royals scored a fine 159 for eight in 20 overs.

After Rahul Dravid departed early, Rahane held the innings firm as he hit six boundaries and two sixes during his fine knock. He also shared a 59-run stand with Watson.

For Chennai, Dwayne Bravo took three wickets all in the final over of the innings while Chris Morris and Jason Holder bagged two each.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS

That's It.  Rajasthan Royals have made a royal entry to the final beating Chennai by 14 runs. CSK 146-8 in 20 overs.

Ashwin's efforts comes to an end. CSK 145-8 in 19.4 overs.

R Ashwin c Binny b Faulkner 46 (28b 3x4 3x6)

It's good job from Ashwin and Morris, who took it  to the final over. Chennai neeed 23 from 8 balls. CSK 137-7 in 19 overs.

Chennai need 37 from 12 balls. Tall target, but Dravid is not taking any chances. CSK 123-7 in 18 overs.

Some fireworks from Ashwin. Chennai need 52 from 18 balls. CSK 108-7 in 17 overs.

Chennai need 63 from 24 balls. CSK 97-7 in 16 overs.

Chennai batsmen just hanging in there as the runrate is soaring. They need 74 from 30 balls to win. CSK 86-7 in 15 overs.

It's a dream run for Tambe in the middle. Gets his third victim and that Raina. CSK 72-7 in 12.3 overs.

S Raina c sub b Tambe 29 (23b 4x4 0x6)

Watson strikes this time. Jadeja walks back. Chennai are fast slipping. CSK 70-6 in 12 overs.

R Jadeja c Yagnik b Watson 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Tambe gets his second. Another big wicket of Bravo. CSK 63-5 in 11 overs.

D Bravo lbw b Tambe 3 (5b 0x4 0x6)

At half way stage, Chennai are not looking good losing four wickets, but they still have Raina in the middle. CSK 59-4 in 10 overs.

Shukla bags the big wicket. Dhoni is gone. Chennai sinking here. CSK 54-4 in 9.2 overs.

MS Dhoni lbw b Shukla 3 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Brilliant over from Tambe. Gets a stumping and then makes Dhoni dance for the remaining balls of the over. CSK 52-3 in 9 overs.

Rajasthan strike again. Badrinath departs. CSK 51-3 in 8.1 overs.

S Badrinath st Yagnik b Tambe 8 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Chennai 51-2 in 8 overs.

A good over for Rajasthan. Rahul Dravid has already used six bowlers. CSK 44-2 in 7 overs.

After the wicket, Chennai still get 12 runs from that over. CSK 41-2 in 6 overs.

After surviving for many a times, Vijay finally succeeds to run himself out. Good work from Samson. CSK 33-2 in 5.4 overs.

Watson misses an easy run out chance and then gives away two boundaries. CSK 29-1 in 5 overs.

Rajasthan bowlers are keeping it tight. Chennai is finding it hard to score. CSK 20-1 in 4 overs.

Rajasthan strike early. Some good fielding gets paid off. Hussey goes. CSK 13-1 in 2.5 overs.

M Hussey run out 9 (11b 1x4 0x6)

Eight runs coming off it, including a no ball. CSK 10-0 in 2 overs.

Good over from Binny. Just two runs off it. CSK 2-0 in 1 over.

Murali VIjay and Michael Hussey open for Chennai. Stuart Binny with the new ball.

RAJASTAN ROYALS INNINGS

Good over from Bravo. Rajasthan are 159-8 in 20 overs.

Another one for Bravo. On a hat trick he is. RR 158-8 in 19.4 overs.

S Binny c Jadeja b Bravo 5 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Bravo takes another. Yagnik gone for no score but it brings BInny on to strike. RR 157-7 in 19.3 overs.

D Yagnik c Holder b Bravo 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Rahane departs but after a fine knock to put Rajasthan in a good position. RR 155-6 in 19.1 overs.

A Rahane c Sharma b Bravo 70 (56b 6x4 2x6)

Rajasthan are 155-5 in 19 overs.

Brad Hodge is bowled. Not a good start to the over for Rajasthan. RR 149-5 in 18.1 overs.

B Hodge b Holder 11 (9b 1x4 0x6)

Two more overs remaining. Rajasthan will look for another easily 20 runs. RR 149-4 in 18 overs.

Another good over for Rajasthan. 12 runs from it. RR 141-4 in 17 overs.

Four overs remain, Rajasthan still have some big hitters. Rahane reaches 58. RR 129-4 in 16 overs.

As it looked Watson was opening up, he is gone. Celebrations for Chennai players. RR 121-4 in 5.1 overs.

S Watson c Holder b Morris 32 (23b 4x4 0x6)

Watson gets going as he knocks two boundries. Runs coming freely for Rajasthan. RR 121-3 in 15 overs.

A boundary takes Rahane to a well-deserved half century. RR 108-3 in 14 overs.

Partnership reaches 40 off 26 balls. Rahane on 46. RR 102-3 in 13 overs.

Ashwin looked listless. Bowls three wides while Rahane hammers him for a fine six and a boundary. Good over for Rajasthan. RR 94-3 in 12 overs.

Runs coming in singles and twos. Rajasthan will need a strong partnership if they were to post a good total. RR 78-3 in 11 overs.

Watson will be the key here. He shows his class with a lovely boundary as Rajasthan reach half way. RR 71-3 in 10 overs.

That was totally uncalled for from Samson as he holes an easy one to Ashwin. RR 62-3 in 8.4 overs.

S Samson c Ashwin b Holder 11 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Rahane and Samson rotating the strike well. A fine partnership building on. RR 54-2 in 8 overs.

Runs coming easily or Rajasthan. A partnership is very important for Rajasthan. RR 43-2 in 6 overs.

Samson starts off with a boundary. Rajasthan can't afford to lose more wickets here. RR 37-2 in 5 overs.

Eventful over that was. Cooper got cracking the time he arrived smashing a six and two boundaries but Sharma had the last laugh taking his wicket off the last ball via a slower one. RR 29-2 in 4 overs.

K Cooper c Badrinath b Sharma 14 (7b 2x4 1x6)

That's a beauty from Chris Morris and he gets through the Wall. RR 14-1 in 2.4 overs.

R Dravid b Morris 5 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Just one classy boundary from Dravid. Mohit Sharma kept his cool after getting hit once. RR 11-0 in 2 overs.

Rahane is not worried about Jadeja opening the bowling as he hammers a straight six to open his account. RR 7-0 in 1 over.

Dhoni springs a surprise as Ravindra Jadeja prepares to open the bowling attack. Dravid and Rahane begiin for Rajasthan.

MS Dhoni is confident the weather wouldn't change much as the match progresses. Rahul Dravid also wanted to bowl first.

Playing XI:

CSK: M Vijay, M Hussey, S Raina, D Bravo, MS Dhoni, S Badrinath, R Jadeja, C Morris, R Ashwin, J Holder, M Sharma.

RR: R Dravid, A Rahane, S Samson, S Watson, S Binny, B Hodge, D Yagnik, J Faulkner, K Cooper, R Shukla, P Tambe

PREVIEW

Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set for an IPL blockbuster in Friday's first semifinal of the Champions League T20 2013 clash at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

The Rahul Dravid-led Rajasthan have been impregnable in their fortress and will enjoy home advantage against the MS Dhoni-led Chennai who are the favourites.

RR have been invincible at home this season being undefeated in eight matches in the IPL season and followed that up winning all four matches in the CLT20 2013.

They have enjoyed a superb run so far winning all their group matches convincingly.

CSK on the other hand suffered a stunning setback in their final league outing losing to Trinidad & Tobago being bowled out for 118.

Nevertheless, Chennai will start as favourites because of their overall depth and experience of playing in knockout matches.

Dhoni, Raina and the evergreen Mike Hussey are the key players in their line-up.

However, Rajasthan Royals, will be determined to deliver in front of their home fans.

Dravid, Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Shane Watson, Stuart Binny and Brad Hodge hold the key for RR.

For the record, CSK have an edge over RR having defeated them on eight occasions.

Both teams won their respective home matches in IPL season six.

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