Ranchi: Chennai Super Kings reached the final of the Indian Premier League for the sixth time as they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by three wickets in Qualifier 2 at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Put in to bat, two-time runners-up RCB could only manage 139/8 with Chris Gayle top-scoring with 41. Sarfaraz Khan also played a handy innings of 31.
Latest IPL news
Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra was the pick of the bowlers for CSK as he picked up 3/28 from his four overs.
In reply, two-time champions CSK were driven by a patient knock from veteran Michel Hussey, who scored 56 from 46 balls.
The left-hander shared a useful 47-run stand with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) to help his side reach home with three wickets and a ball to spare.
CSK set up a Sunday title clash with Mumbai Indians, who won Qualifier 1 against the same opponents on Tuesday.
Earlier, veteran pacer Nehra came good for CSK as he clinched 3/28 in his four overs, including the vital wickets of RCB skipper Virat Kohli (12) and South African AB de Villiers (1).
Nehra was well assisted by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who ended with brilliant bowling figures of 1/13 from his alotted 4 overs, including Mandeep Singh (4).
Gayle top-scored with 41, although it wasn’t his usual powerful innings as it took 43 balls and he hit only two fours and three sixes.
Two important cameos from wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik (28) and Sarfaraz Khan (31) helped augment RCB’s total, but the top order failed to make an impact when it mattered most.
Good bowling changes and field placements by CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also proved significant as Mohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo clinched a wicket each to slow the run rate and restrict RCB.
During CSK’s chase, Dwayne Smith was first to fall as he pulled medium pacer Sreenath Aravind to Mitchell Starc at deep square leg.
At this time, CSK were 21/1 in 3.1 overs and they could have lost their second wicket from the next delivery had Gayle had not dropped Faf du Plessis’ who edged to first slip.
CSK also had luck on their side on another occasion as RCB’s David Wiese induced an edge off opener Hussey, then on 11, only for it to be dropped by wicketkeeper Karthik.
However, Du Plessis failed to grab the chance and went back to the dug-out after being bowled by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the second ball of the 10th over for 21.
Two deliveries later, Chahal dealt another blow to CSK by removing Suresh Raina for 0. The Indian left-hander offered a catch to Wiese at long-off to leave CSK struggling at 61/3.
However, Hussey kept the scoreboard ticking with singles, twos and the odd boundary before he played into the hands of Harshal Patel off Wiese.
With 32 still required in 21 deliveries and skipper Dhoni not at his best, it seemed RCB had a chance.
But Dhoni and Pawan Negi (12 in six balls) took them over the line.
CSK proceed to the final, to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday against 2013 champions Mumbai.
