T&T beat CSK, march into CLT20 semis

New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) Trinidad and Tobago eased into the Champions League Twenty20 semifinals beating Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets to top Group B at the Ferozeshah Kotla here Wednesday.

Trinidad and Tobago achieved their first objective as they bowled out Chennai Super Kings for 118 in 19.4 overs after putting them in to bat. In response, they chased down the target in 15.1 overs. The Caribbean side will now face Mumbai Indians in the second semifinal here Saturday while CSK take on Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur Friday.

Openers Lendl Simmons (63) and Evin Lewis (38) gave a solid start to their chase, striking a 79-run partnership. After the in-form Lewis was caught in front of the stumps by part time bowler Suresh Raina, Simmons continued his onslaught.

The right hand bat Simmons anchored the innings with his 41-ball knock which included five fours and four sixes while Darren Bravo (11 not out) saw the team home.

There was not much to talk about the Super Kings’ bowling as only Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to clinch a wicket each.

Earlier, the Super Kings batsmen were really not in their elements as they collapsed for a measly 118 with only three of their batsman getting into double figures. It was more of dismal batting from the two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions than a good bowling performance of T&T, which led to the result.

Only opener Murali Vijay (27), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (25) and Raina (38) showed some potential in the otherwise drab batting show by the 2010 CLT20 champions.

Pacers Ravi Rampaul and Lendl Simmons clinched two wickets each as all-rounder Rayad Emrit took three with his medium pace.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 118 all out in 19.4 overs (Suresh Raina 38, Murali Vijay 27, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 25; Rayad Emrit 3/21, Lendl Simmons 2/10, Ravi Rampaul 2/31) lost to Trinidad and Tobago 119/2 in 15.1 overs (Lendl Simmons 63, Evin Lewis 38, Darren Bravo 11 not out; Suresh Raina 1/16, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/24).