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Chennai Super Kings Will Meet Mumbai Indians In IPL 2015 Final

Chennai Super Kings Will Meet Mumbai Indians In IPL 2015 Final
Chennai Super Kings fielder Badrinath (R) celebrates with his teammate after taking a catch to dismiss Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Yousuf Pathan during the IPL Twenty20 cricket final match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 27, 2012. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. MOBILE USE WITHIN NEWS PACKAGE. AFP PHOTO/Manjunath KIRAN (Photo credit should read Manjunath Kiran/AFP/GettyImages)
MANJUNATH KIRAN via Getty Images
Chennai Super Kings fielder Badrinath (R) celebrates with his teammate after taking a catch to dismiss Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Yousuf Pathan during the IPL Twenty20 cricket final match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 27, 2012. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. MOBILE USE WITHIN NEWS PACKAGE. AFP PHOTO/Manjunath KIRAN (Photo credit should read Manjunath Kiran/AFP/GettyImages)

RANCHI — Chennai Super Kings (CSK) reached the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a record sixth time as they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by three wickets in the second eliminator in Ranchi on Friday.

Put in to bat, two-time runners-up RCB could only manage a modest total of 139/8 with left-handed opener Chris Gayle top-scoring with 41. Sarfaraz Khan also played a handy innings of 31. Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra was the pick of the bowlers for CSK as he picked up 3/28 from his four overs.

In reply, two-time champions CSK were driven by a patient knock from veteran Michael Hussey, who scored 56 from 46 balls. The left-hander shared a useful 47-run stand with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) to help his side reach home with three wickets and a ball to spare.

With this win, CSK set up Sunday's title clash with Mumbai Indians (MI), who won the Qualifier 1 against the same opponents on Tuesday.

Earlier, veteran pacer Nehra once again came good for CSK as he clinched 3/28 in his four overs, including the vital wickets of RCB skipper Virat Kohli (12) and explosive batsman AB de Villiers (1).

Nehra was well assisted by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who ended with brilliant bowling figures of 4-0-13-1, scalping Mandeep Singh (4). The duo did not allow the RCB batsmen to accelerate at all.

Though left-handed opener Chris Gayle top-scored with 41, it wasn't his usual innings as he played 43 balls and hit only two boundaries and three sixes.

Two important cameos from wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik (28) and Sarfaraz (31) helped augment RCB's total at the end, but the top order failed to make an impact when it mattered the most.

Good bowling changes and field placements by CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was playing on home ground, also proved significant as Mohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo also clinched a wicket each to slow down the run rate and restrict RCB to 139/8.

During the chase, CSK also didn't get a good start as aggressive opener Dwayne Smith (17) pulled medium pacer Sreenath Aravind it to Mitchell Starc at deep square leg.

At this time, CSK were 21/1 in 3.1 overs and they could have lost their second wicket in the next delivery had Chris Gayle had not dropped Faf du Plessis, who edged to first slip in the very first ball he faced.

CSK had luck on their side on another occasion as RCB's David Wiese induced an edge off opener Michael Hussey, who was then on 11, only for it was to be dropped by wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.

However, Du Plessis failed to grab the chance and went back to the dug-out after being bowled by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the second ball of the 10th over. The South African right-hander made 21.

Two deliveries later, Chahal gave another blow to CSK by removing Suresh Raina (0). The Indian left-hander offered a catch to David Wiese at long-off to leave CSK struggling at 61/3.

However, Hussey kept the scoreboard ticking with ones, twos and odd boundaries before he played it to the hands of Harshal Patel off Wiese.

With 32 still required in 21 deliveries and skipper Dhoni not in his best of forms, it seemed RCB had a chance. But Dhoni and Pawan Negi (12 in 6 balls) ensured that they enter the final for the fourth time in the last five years.

Following this win, CSK proceed to the final to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday against 2013 champions Mumbai.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.