Bangalore reach the semi-finals, Chennai face must-win clash
The Royal Challengers Bangalore qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 on Tuesday thanks to a six-wicket win over Highfield Lions.
In what was described as a straight shootout for a place in the semis, the Royals managed to fire 159-6 but a match-winning 49 off 29 balls from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virat-Kohli-c95424 guided his Bangalore side to victory as they achieved the total with one over to spare.
After opting to bat first, the Highveld Lions seemed to be soaring towards a huge score with skipper Alviro Petersen making a well-constructed 45 and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Anil-Kumble-c44737 claimed a wicket apiece as Bangalore broke through partnerships regularly to prevent the Lions running away with the game.
Bangalore’s Manish Pandey got the reply off to a blistering start by justifying his inclusion over Jacques Kallis by hitting 46 off 36 balls. He was supported by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Robin-Uthappa-c2356 all for single figures.
That left 48 runs required in the last five overs where Kohli grabbed the bull by the horns and played magnificently, along with Cameron White (17 not out), to send the Indians a step closer to the final.
In the day’s other game, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844 inflicted a 15-run defeat on Guyana despite a valiant effort from Ramnaresh Sarwan, who hit 70 off 43 balls but ended up on the losing side.
Today sees the final league games for the Champions League, and the pressure is very much on the Chennai Super Kings who know a win against the Warriors will be enough to send them through to the knock-out stages, anything less and they will be returning home.
The top of the group Warriors’ will battle it out with the Bushrangers for second place, depending on the NRR, if Chennai are successful, however, if the Warriors beat Chennai, they will take the Bushrangers along with them to the last-four stage.
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