Chennai cruise into T20 semi-finals

Michael Hussey had a major role in Chennai Super Kings’ consistent batting performance in the Indian Premier League last season and the Australian opener seemed to have extended his golden run in the Champions League Twenty20 tourney as well.

Michael Hussey on his way to a half-century.

Hussey smashed an unbeaten half-century to guide Chennai to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Brisbane Heat in a one-sided Group B encounter at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Saturday night. It was Chennai’s third consecutive victory and helped them clinch a semi-final spot in the tournament.

Hussey, who remained not out on 57 off 48 balls, made Chennai’s victory easy after he added 75 runs in just 9.2 overs with his opening partner Murali Vijay, who made an aggressive 42 off 27 deliveries with two sixes and five boundaries.

Even after Vijay’s dismissal, sent back by Ben Cutting, Chennai faced no pressure because Hussey had a reliable partner in Suresh Raina, who chipped in with a cameo of 23 from just 15 balls with two sixes and one boundary. The duo added a quick-fire 41 from just 4.4 overs, hastening Chennai’s victory surge.

Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Hussey after Raina was trapped infront by Daniel Christian, and the Dhoni-Hussey pair smashed 24 runs from 11 balls and powered Chennai to an easy victory with 25 balls to spare.

Dhoni remained not out on 13 from five balls, including one six and one four.

“We thought we would be chasing 120-odd runs, but it was very well done with the help of Raina, Hussey and Vijay,” Dhoni said.

Earlier, Brisbane found it difficult once spinners were introduced and Chennai took firm control of the match after Ravindra Jadeja bagged two wickets in the seventh over. The all-rounder bowled an economical spell, finishing with 2-18 from his four overs. Ravichandran Ashwin was miserly as well, giving away only 10 runs from his four-over spell and picked up the wicket of Chris Lynn, who chipped in with 29 off 24 balls. Even part-time spinner Raina had an excellent time, taking one wicket for nine from his three overs.

Mohit Sharma had two scalps, but proved a bit expensive, going for 35 runs from three overs.

Brisbane finished with 137 for 7 in 20 overs, thanks mainly to an unbeaten 71-run seventh-wicket partnership between Cutting and wicketkeeper Chris Hartley. The duo rescued the team from a precarious position of 6-66 and added some quick runs. Fast bowler Cutting was at his aggressive best, smashing five sixes in his 25-ball 42, while Harley played a calm knock of 35 from 32 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.

Brisbane, after being sent into bat, had a disastrous start when they lost opener Dom Michael for a duck, but James Hopes hit four delightful boundaries in his 14-ball knock of 20.