The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Chennai Superstars books semifinal spot

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Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Chennai Superstars books semifinal spot

Vijay Lokapally

PANCHKULA: Vasanth Saravanan may not have scored more priceless runs than the ones he compiled at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Saturday.

Just as Craig McMillan did for Kolkata Tigers, which overcame Delhi Jets by four wickets to stay in the reckoning for a semifinal place.

Tigers owed it to McMillan, who came up with a sterling knock of 58, including 24 in one over off S. Abbas Ali even as Ali Murtaza bowled a nagging spell of 4-1-7-2. McMillan’s experience of 55 Tests and 197 ODIs came in handy as he destroyed Delhi Jets with a sensational assault.

Earlier, Monish Mishra (61, 46b, 3x4, 3x6) gave Jets the direction. The 85-run partnership between McMillan and Lance Klusener snatched the match away from Jets. McMillan’s unbeaten effort was crafted off 31 balls with five 4s and four 6s.

Superb contest

Saravanan made a mere 11, but those runs carried Chennai Superstars past a determined Chandigarh Lions in a last-over finish. This was a contest that lifted the quality of the Indian Cricket League a notch higher.

The four-wicket victory created a semifinal slot for Chennai Superstars, which won its third straight contest. Law was in the middle when Saravanan trained his guns on the Lions, looking for that vital slog that would ease the pressure. The target was 147 and the foundation for the winning chase had been laid by Ian Harvey (48, 43b, 5x4, 1x6).

Valiant Cairns

Chris Cairns, the burly Kiwi, fought hard for the Lions. He picked up three wickets but ran out of bowling options, compelled to use Ishan Malhotra for the last over when Superstars needed nine to win.

Saravanan studied the situation very well even as Law ensured there were no alarms by producing a nice on-drive when it mattered a lot. Malhotra thundered in, bowled a dot ball, and came pounding again. This time Saravanan was ready. He made room and swung the ball hard and high over square leg for a six.

The six eased all the pressure and a neat jab off the penultimate ball saw the batsmen scamper the winning run. The job done, Law lavished praise on his players.

“It was an important win but more than anything I am happy to say that the match brought out the quality of the players.” He mentioned Hemang Badani, who smashed 15 in an over, including two sixes off Dinesh Mongia.

Good batting

Lions, electing to bat, prospered through some good batting by Tejinder Pal Singh (47, 43b, 5x4, 1x6) and Manish Sharma (36, 26b, 3x4, 3x6) and a late charge by Chetan Sharma (27 off 16 balls).

The scores:

Chandigarh Lions 146 in 20 overs (T.P. Singh 47, Manish Sharma 36) lost to Chennai Superstars 147 for six in 19.5 overs (Ian Harvey 48, Chris Cairns three for 17).

Delhi Jets 149 for seven in 20 overs (Monish Mishra 61, Marwan Atapattu 36, Lance Klusener three for 16) lost to Kolkata Tigers 150 for six in 18.5 overs (Craig McMillan 58 not out, Deep Dasgupta 32).

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