Riding on a match-winning 46-ball 56 by Michael Hussey, Chennai Super Kings registered a 3-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second qualifier of the Indian Premier League in Ranchi on Friday. Super Kings will now face Mumbai Indians in the summit clash on Sunday at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Veteran batsman Hussey played a mature knock, which included two sixes and three fours, to help twice champions CSK chase down the modest 140-run target with 3 wickets and 1 ball to spare. Hussey got out after putting a crucial 47-run for the fourth wicket with skipper MS Dhoni (26). CSK needed 32 more runs to win in 3.3 overs when David Wiese took the prized scalp of Hussey.
There were few dramas in the end, when CSK lost Dwayne Bravo (0) and Pawan Negi (12) in the penultimate over bowled by Mitchell Starc. Starc clean bowled Bravo after Negi was run out in the previous ball. With scores tied, the drama continued when CSK lost Dhoni with two balls left to win the match. Then Ashwin (1*) held his nerves to take his team home with a ball to spare in the end. Chris Gayle top-scored for RCB with a unfamiliar 41 off 43 balls which was studded with two fours and three sixes. Young Sarfaraz Khan (31 off 21 balls) played short little cameo towards the end to give RCB bowlers something to defend. Dinesh Karthik (28 off 26) also played a good hand but just when his team need him, the wicket-keeper batsman perished in search of quick runs.
