CLT20: Royals vs. Super Kings: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

The Champions League T20 has flown by faster than you can say: Indian Premier League teams dominate. The semifinals are here, and first up on Friday is a rather formidable feast between the unbeaten Rajasthan Royals and fearsome Chennai Super Kings. 

The Royals had no problem getting into the playoff stages, beating every single side they faced. Chennai were the first team to qualify outright and only lost against Trinidad & Tobago in their final clash on Wednesday. 

Rajasthan have the advantage of playing on their home turf, something which has become quite a fortress. After the Royals' win over Otago, they have extended their winning streak at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium to 12 on the trot. Despite Chennai's blip in their final match, the contest should be quite tight. A place in the final and that very lucrative prize money sum of $2.5 million for winning the final is within reach.

What: Semifinal, Rajasthan Royals vs. Chennai Super Kings

Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

When: Friday October 4, 2013, 14:30 a.m. UK time 

Live Stream/TV info: BritishEurosport 2

Weather: Accuweather reckons there will be a stray thunderstorm. It should pass, though, with the evening forecast looking clear at a rather balmy 29 degrees celsius.

Pitch: The pitch has dished up all sorts of results, but the team batting second has won four times, while the team batting first has won twice. There was also a tied game which resulted in a Super Over. Par score is around the 140-mark with teams managing to go well beyond that a couple of times. The lowest total was 121, but that was more due to Perth Scorchers' incompetence rather than the conditions. The Australian side were all out for 120 in 20 overs, and Rajasthan chased down the score in just 16.3 overs in that instance.

 

Key men

Rajasthan Royals

Like Chennai, the Royals have just once had to defend a total. As a unit, their bowlers have not conceded more than 153 in the entire tournament, with Pravin Tambe being the standout performer. He has bowled economically and, although only used as the final change bowler, has applied himself brilliantly. Restricting the runs will be key for the Royals. They certainly are capable of chasing down scores, but keeping the run rate in check is definitely their trump card.

Chennai Super Kings

Suresh Raina has scored 192 runs in four games at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 148.83. Chennai have only had to defend a total once in the competition, but even then they amassed 202-4 in 20 overs. Raina played a key role in that game, scoring 84 off 57. If he can combine with batting powerhouses Michael Hussey and MS Dhoni, CSK could be brutal.

Squads

Rajasthan Royals

Rahul Dravid (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson (w), Shane Watson, Stuart Binny, Brad Hodge, Ashok Menaria, James Faulkner, Kevon Cooper, Vikramjeet Malik, PravinTambe, Shaun Tait, Harmeet Singh, Rahul Shukla, Dishant Yagnik 

Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, M Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, S Badrinath, Imtiaz Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohit Sharma, Michael Hussey, Dwayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, Jason Holder, Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris

Via Cricinfo