CLT20 CSK vs KXIP: CSK enter final with convincing victory over KXIP

Hyderabad: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) won the toss and elected to field first against the former CLT20 champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal in the second semifinal of CLT20.

Here is the live cricket score.

Cheanni Super Kings opening pair of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum made a steady start scoring 21 runs in the first three overs. However, Parvinder Awana broke their partnership to give KXIP their first breakthrough in the semifinal.

Smith was soon joined by his opening partner McCullum as Thisara Perera cut short the New Zealander's stay in the middle. Kings XI Punjab continued their good show as Awana removed ever so dangerous Suresh Raina in the final over of powerplay.

While wickets tumbled at the other end, Faf du Plessis held the fort for Chennai Super Kings. The South African made sure CSK kept chipping in with runs. However, the run-rate was on a lower side, in context of a T20 game.

But Dwayne Bravo and du Plessis quickly made amends to up CSK's ante. After 11 overs the Dhoni-led team was 73/3. From then CSK scored 43 runs in the next three overs. However they lost du Plessis during that period after he scored 46.

While Bravo continued to push CSK closer to a 180 run-mark, Awana continued tp bring back KXIP in the game. In that process, he registered a hat-trick in space of two wickets. On his final ball of the 3rd over he had dismissed Raina and then in the final over of his spell, he removed Negi and Dhoni on the first two deliveries to complete his hat-trick.

Bravo too got out after a well-made and rapid fifty. However, Jadeja's blitz helped CSK to end their inning with a flourish.

Preview:

The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK did not particularly enjoy a smooth ride on their way to the semifinal. However, this side has proven in the past that they click when it is most required of them. While CSK’s batting has been far more effective thus far in the tournament, their bowlers put up a solid show in a win against Perth Scorchers. Dhoni would be hoping that CSK would fire as a unit against KXIP to seal a place in the final.

However, that won’t be an easy task. Apart from KKR, KXIP is the only side which has remained unbeaten in CLT20. With their batsmen and bowlers doing well in tandem, the George Bailey-led unit will be keen to prolong their unbeaten record and outplay CSK in the semifinals.

Key players:

Suresh Raina

The last time these two sides faced eachother, Suresh Raina played a firecracker of a knock. CSK’s number will be eager to have an encore of such an inning and would be happy to take CSK into the final of CLT20.

Glenn Maxwell:
While he has tonked quite a few sixes in this tournament, Maxwell did not play a big knock as yet. A semifinal would be an ideal stage for the big-hitter to showcase his dazzling strokeplay. While his presence in the middle would keep CSK under pressure, it would increase KXIP’s chances to enter their first ever CLT20 final.

Squads:

Chennai Super Kings; Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain and wicketkeeper), Suresh Raina, Ashish Nehru, Mithuan Manhas, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishwar Pandey, Pavan Negi, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohit Sharma, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, John Hastings, Brendon McCullum, Samuel Badree and Francois du Plessis.

Kings XI Punjab: George Bailey (captain), Virender Sehwag, Anureet Singh, Parvinder Awana, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Rishi Dhawan, Karanveer Singh, Mandeep Singh, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Akshar Patel, Thisara Perera, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Manan Vohra.