Published: Oct 02, 2013, 10:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 02, 2013, 10:42 PM (IST)
Lendl Simmons top-scored for Trinidad and Tobago scoring 63 off 41 balls against the Chennai Super Kings at Delhi © IANS
By Sarang Bhalerao
Oct 2, 2013
Trinidad and Tobago eased to a eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the final Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) 2013 at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on Wednesday. With this win Trinidad top the group B.
Lendl Simmons (63 off 41 balls) and Evin Lewis (38 off 35 balls) stitched an opening stand of 79 in 61 balls which took Trinidad and Tobago to the position of strength.
Getting early wickets was the need of the hour for Chennai Super Kings. The first ball from Ravichandran Ashwin was a floater that beat Trinidad and Tobago opener Simmons after pitching. The ball took the edge of the bat and flew between ‘keeper MS Dhoni and a wide first slip. Evin Lewis, the other opener, took his chances in the powerplay overs. Albie Morkel’s wide delivery was hit over point for a boundary as Lewis kickstarted his aggression.
Lewis used the pace of Morkel’s delivery which went past fine-leg for a boundary. The aggressive southpaw then executed a pull shot which raced across the outfield for a boundary. The third boundary of the over was a fortuitous inside-edge that went for a boundary towards fine-leg.
Simmons was playing a measured knock but he didn’t leave the opportunity to punish Ashwin when he strayed on the pads. Simmons helped the ball towards fine-leg for a boundary.
Dhoni introduced Ravindra Jadeja in the sixth over. The left-arm spinner bowled quicker through the air thus presenting Lewis with a short ball that was help yourself delivery. Lewis carted him for two boundaries through the covers.
Simmons took Jadeja apart in the 10th over carting him for a slog-sweep over mid-wicket for a six. The next delivery was hit over long-on for a massive six. To compound Chennai’s matters the next ball was threaded in the gap between backward point and covers.
Lewis was out leg-before in the 11th over off Suresh Raina but the opening partnership of 79 off 61 balls had already taken Trinidad to the position of strength.
Simmons played in a carefree manner taking his chances and helping Trinidad in chasing the runs in under 17.4 overs. He thumped his compatriot Jason Holder over mid-wicket for a huge six. Simmons smashed Ashwin for a flat six over long-off but was dismissed off a half-tracker on the ball that followed.
Trinidad will now face Mumbai Indians at Delhi on Saturday while Chennai travel to Jaipur and have a gargantuan task of dismantling Rajasthan Royals on their home turf.
Read the first innings report here.
Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings 118 in 19.4 overs (Suresh Raina 38, Murali Vijay 27; Rayad Emrit 3 for 21) lost to Trinidad and Tobago 119 for 2 in 15.1 overs (Lendl Simmons 63, Evin Lewis 38; Suresh Raina 1 for 16) by 8 wickets.
Man of the Match: Lendl Simmons
Champions League (CLT20) 2013 Match Schedule
Champions League (CLT20) 2013 Points Table
(Sarang Bhalerao hails from a family of doctors, but did his engineering. He then dumped a career in IT with Infosys to follow his heart and passion and became a writer with CricketCountry. A voracious reader, Sarang aspires to beat Google with his knowledge of the game! You can follow him on Twitter here)
