T&T wallop CSK to enter CLT20 semifinals

NEW DELHI: It's not often that one sees Chennai Super Kings being embarrassed on the field or being accused of poor cricket. But Trinidad and Tobago were glad to have run into a limp CSK and promptly put in their best effort to dislodge Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men from the Group B top spot and edge past Titans to qualify for the semis in style. Their star of the day was the efficient Lendl Simmons (63 off 41 with the bat, with five fours and four sixes, and 2/10 with the ball from two overs) as T&T overhauled CSK's poor 118 with eight wickets and 29 balls remaining. T&T will now play Mumbai Indians in Delhi in one semifinal, while CSK head to Jaipur to play Rajasthan Royals. CSK may get a second wind before that game and fans may yet see a Mumbai-Chennai final, but as defeats go this has to rank as one of CSK's worst. With Ravindra Jadeja's nightmare tournament continuing (2-0-30-0) and three with the bat), Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay failing to capitalise and Michael Hussey falling early, nothing went right for CSK on the day. The belligerent-in-parts Evin Lewis gave Simmons good company and by the time the first wicket fell in the 11th over with 79 already up on the board, it looked all over for CSK. T&T needed to overhaul the target in 17.4 overs or less to gain the top spot, and they did it in 15.1 overs. With two back-to-back matches being staged here, the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch seemed to have got just that bit slower and lower when the evening game started. T&T promptly put CSK's heavy-hitters in and would have been immensely satisfied with their bowling effort. CSK were already through to the semis and that showed in their performance. The team somehow failed to put in the late charge their batsmen are so renowned for and were all out for a sub-par 118. Even a change of bat in the 16th over by MS Dhoni (25 off 25 balls; 2x4) failed to have the desired effect.