Champions League T20 2014: Updated Scores, Group Standings, Remaining Schedule
Two-and-a-half weeks of top-quality short-form cricket got underway in India on Sept. 17 as the 2014 Champions League T20 group stages kicked off.
Northern Knights and Lahore Lions joined the eight other teams already qualified as they came through the preliminary stages.
Last year's champions Mumbai Indians did not even get to the group phase after failing to make it through the qualifiers. As a result, IPL sides Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings look the favourites for the competition.
Read on for full group standings, fixtures and results as well as a day-to-day summary of the tournament's matches.
Updated Group Standings
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Group A
| Team | P | W | L | N/R | Net RR | Pts |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +0.716 | 16 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +0.945 | 10 |
| Perth Scorchers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -0.038 | 8 |
| Lahore Lions | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -0.051 | 6 |
| Dolphins | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -1.338 | 0 |
Group B
| Team | P | W | L | N/R | Net RR | Pts |
| Kings XI Punjab | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +2.130 | 16 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +1.193 | 12 |
| Barbados Tridents | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.256 | 4 |
| Cape Cobras | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -0.955 | 4 |
| Northern Knights | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -2.667 | 4 |
Courtesy of CLT20.com
Remaining Schedule
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Semi-Finals
Thursday, October 2
Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Hobart Hurricanes
4 p.m. IST/11:30 a.m. BST
Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Kings XI Punjab vs. Chennai Super Kings
8 p.m. IST/3:30 p.m. BST
Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Final
Saturday, October 4
8 p.m. IST/3:30 p.m. BST
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Sept. 30: Barbados Tridents End Season on High Note with Northern Knights Defeat
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Barbados Tridents (138/4) bt. Northern Knights (135/8) by six wickets
Barbados Tridents clinched their first win of the 2014 Champions League T20 campaign on Tuesday, beating New Zealand's Northern Knights in the final group-stage fixture.
It was by no means the greatest tally the Tridents were forced to chase, and Ravi Rampaul did his best to limit the Kiwis, taking three wickets as Anton Devcich top-scored with 47 from 47 deliveries to help the Knights' total.
Devcich accumulated the single largest run total of the day, but whereas the Knights relied on a few individuals for their 135-run tally, it was a far more balanced act from the victors.
And that proved to be their greatest asset as not one of their six batsmen hit fewer than 11 runs, James Franklin hitting the winning boundary to seal the win for his side. Speaking after the result, per ESPN Cricinfo, Man of the Match Franklin said:
"Pretty tough couple of weeks for the team, not getting the right results so nice to get across the line tonight. I obviously played a lot with the Northern Districts guys so there is familiarity."
It was mostly a win of pride more than anything else, considering the top two qualifiers from Group B had been decided prior to Tuesday's clash.
However, the Tridents will savour their sole success all the same, happy to have at least registered points on the board before their time in the tournament was through.
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Sept. 30: Lahore Lions Whimper out of Competition at Perth Scorchers' Hands
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Perth Scorchers (130/7) bt. Lahore Lions (124/6) by three wickets
Mitchell Marsh was the hero as Perth Scorchers came back from a seemingly doomed position to knock Lahore Lions out of this season's Champions League T20, albeit failing to qualify for the semi-finals themselves.
The Australian outfit were 62-7 and looked out of the fixture as they went about chasing 125. That was until Marsh struck an unbeaten 63 from 38 balls to deliver the visitors their victory.
Per ESPN Cricinfo, the 22-year-old said of his performance:
"It certainly was tight. Certainly not the start we would have wanted. Those totals are not always easy, and they have an experienced bowling line-up. Joel has announced himself, and he has a massive future. Just had a bit of a tight hammie, fingers crossed all will be good. It has been fantastic. Although we lost those two close games, we take a lot out of them. We are a young side, a lot to take out of this tournament for us.
"
Marsh was handed Man of the Match honours for such a glossy display, Brad Hogg finishing up as his partner after contributing 28 not out.
The Lions' Saad Nasim impressed earlier in the day with his 69, including eight boundaries, but Marsh would go on to knock 10 of his own—including three sixes—leaving no shade of doubt as to who deserved top billing.
Lahore's slow bowlers took down the majority of Perth's top order, and it initially looked as though their slim chances of qualifying for the semis ahead of Chennai Super Kings might be on course.
But it wasn't to be as the Scorchers took advantage of their hosts' low score. The Lions quartet of Nasir Jamshed, Umar Siddiq, Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz managed just two runs between them from a combined 14 deliveries.
Marsh grabbed his 1,000th T20 run in the process of clinching another half-century, an incredible achievement given his age and a tempo he'll look to keep up in future.
It's especially significant that such a strong display should come on the same day he featured as a stand-in captain for his side, showing great maturity with bat and ball as he took two Lions wickets on Tuesday, too.
Sept. 29: Knight Riders Cruise to Victory over Dolphins in Final Group Match
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Kolkata Knight Riders (187/2) bt. Dolphins (151/8) by 36 runs
Kolkata Knight Riders continued their unbeaten run as they defeated Dolphins in Hyderabad on Monday, condemning the South African side to a winless Champions League T20 campaign.
Having won the toss and opted to bat, Kolkata put on 187 in their 20 overs for the loss of just two early wickets, Gautam Gambhir falling for 12 and Jacques Kallis for six.
At 34-2 after five overs, the IPL champions were still scoring fast despite the two dismissals and Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa took on the Dolphins' bowling attack.
The pair put together a stunning 153-run partnership, with Uthappa firing 85 from 55 balls and Pandey 76 from just 47.
Seven Dolphins bowlers were used, but none were able to stem the flow of runs with Andile Phehlukwayo and Khaya Zondo taking particular punishment in single-over spells.
In response, Morne van Wyk’s side lost two early wickets as Cameron Delport and Cody Chetty fell for a duck and one respectively in the opening two overs.
Skipper Van Wyk put on some decent runs at the top of the order—34 from 28 balls—before falling to the bowling of Yusuf Pathan.
Zondo and Phehlukwayo also posted scores in the 30s but Dolphins simply could not keep up with the required rate that was needed to win the game.
They lost a handful of late wickets and finished their 20 overs 36 runs short of their opponents with eight wickets down, an inauspicious end to a poor campaign.
Meanwhile, Kolkata kept their unbeaten run intact and look in fine form heading into the semi-finals, where they will face Hobart Hurricanes.
Sept. 28: Kings XI Secure Group B Top Spot in Win over Cape Cobras
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Kings XI Punjab (139/3) bt. Cape Cobras (135) by 7 wickets.
Kings XI's bowling regained form just in time to limit Cape Cobras' total, and Wriddhiman Saha led the IPL side to a comfortable win and an undefeated record in Group B.
Cobras were sent out to bat first and did tremendous damage in the early overs, with Richard Levi and Hashim Amla combining for 82 runs from 59 balls, as Kings XI's bowlers couldn't find an answer early.
The South Africans appeared to be on pace for close to 200 runs, but the Indians' group of bowlers suddenly found their form in the final six overs. Cobras' last six batsmen combined for just 14 runs, with Akshar Patel (four overs, 15 runs conceded, three wickets) and Anureet Singh (2.3 overs, 12 runs conceded, three wickets) taking charge.
The target was limited to just 134, and Punjab needed 85 runs to make sure their net run rate wouldn't drop under Hobart Hurricanes'.
Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra combined for 46 runs from 41 balls, and Saha added 42 from 35 as Kings XI's vaunted group of batsmen lived up to their reputation on Sunday. Robin Peterson (four overs, 19 runs surrendered, one wicket) and Rory Kleinveldt (four overs, 24 runs) held up their end of the bargain, but the rest of Cobras' bowlers couldn't keep up.
David Miller was given the honours of scoring the final runs tied at 135, and a big four did the trick.
George Bailey told ESPNCricinfo he loved the resiliency of his team:
"Good fightback with the ball and we did the job with the bat. It was a tired wicket, holding up a little bit and it was pretty clinical in the end. Wonderjob job, he does through the innings. He contains, he takes wickets and he does it with a short sleeved shirt which is pleasing. They bowl very beautifully together. I reckon he's a little lucky tonight.
"
Punjab ensured themselves the top seed in Group B with the win, avoiding a potential match against Kolkata Knight Riders in the semi-finals. Sunil Narine has been in deadly form, and the longer teams can avoid playing the IPL champions, the better.
Kings XI will likely play Chennai Super Knights in the semi-final, unless Lahore Lions can find a way to boost their net run rate past Chennai's in their final match against Perth Scorchers.
Sept. 28: Hobart Hurricanes Make Play-Offs with Win over Barbados Tridents
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Hobart Hurricanes (117/4) bt. Barbados Tridents (113) by 6 wickets.
Hobart Hurricanes secured passage to the semi-finals with a six-wicket win over Barbados Tridents on Sunday, riding their excellent bowing attack to a narrow victory.
Tridents were sent out to bat first, and they struggled tremendously in the early overs. Mohali's pitch favours bowling, and Hobart's attack paid immediate dividends. Jonathan Carter was the only batsman to find some success, scoring 42 runs from 34 balls.
Xavier Doherty was a menace for the West Indies' side, taking four wickets on the day and surrendering just 27 runs in four overs. Ben Hilfenhaus also had an excellent outing, conceding just 14 in four and taking two wickets.
The target of 114 seemed small, but Hobart's batsmen struggled just as much as their Barbados colleagues in their innings. Tridents did an excellent job limiting Hurricanes' ability to find the boundary, and while the Australians had little difficulty keeping up with the required run rate, the match was still closer than it appeared to be.
Shoaib Malik's 39 runs from 35 balls and Jonathan Wells' 23 from 17 proved to be the difference, with the former hitting back-to-back fours to win his team the match.
He gave all credit to his bowlers, however, as shared by ESPNCricinfo: "One thing was in my mind that in this slow pitch, someone had to bat through. If they had taken those catches, things could have been different. But credit must go to our bowlers. "
Hobart's win will see them qualify for the semi-finals of the T20CL, but they'll have to wait for the final results in Group A to know who their opponents will be.
Hurricanes' bowling attack has been solid so far during the tournament, but questions regarding their batting remain. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, the likely semi-finalists from Group A, both feature excellent bowling of their own.
They're also more used to the Indian pitches, giving them another significant advantage. Hobart's top batsmen will have to step up in the semi-finals, or the T20CL title will be moving back to India for the 2015 season.
Sept. 27: Chennai Super Kings Eliminate Perth Scorchers from Play-off Contention
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Chennai Super Kings (155/6) bt. Perth Scorchers (142/7) by 13 runs.
Chennai rode their bowling to a 13-run win over Perth Scorchers, eliminating the Australians from play-off contention in the process.
The IPL side failed to set a significant target but took full advantage of Bangalore's bowling-friendly pitch, showcasing their strength in depth.
Perth won the toss and elected to field, and Chennai immediately got into trouble. Dwayne Smith had a painful day opening, scoring 11 runs from 13 balls while he struggled to communicate with his partners. Brendon McCullum was dismissed after just 10 balls, and Suresh Raina was run out after just a single delivery.
Super Kings' struggles continued into the middle overs, where Dwayne Bravo started to turn the tide with 27 from 26. It took a big effort from Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni in the last four overs to set a decent target, however.
The duo combined for 66 runs in the last four overs, bringing the target up to 156.
They did most of their damage off Yasir Arafat, who surrendered 51 runs in four overs with one wicket. His performance stood in sharp contrast of Michael Beer, conceding just 16 in four.
The chase looked like a simple one for the Australian side, who needed to beat Chennai to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. But on Bangalore's bowler-friendly pitch, Super Kings' spinners really shone.
Craig Simmons and Adam Voges failed to set the pace opening for Perth, who soon found themselves well behind the required run rate. The middle overs brought more of the same—Chennai did an excellent job limiting explosive plays, and Scorchers failed to find the boundary with any consistency.
Arafat redeemed himself with the bat in the final two overs, but it was too little, too late. Heading into the final over, Perth needed six fours just to earn a Super Over. It never happened, as Chennai pulled out the win to become favourites for the second play-off ticket in Group A.
Ravichandran Ashwin was the big man for Super Kings, surrendering 20 runs and taking three wickets in four overs.
Voges believed Chennai's final overs decided the match, as he told ESPNCricinfo.com:
"Last three overs of their batting innings, Dhoni and Jadeja took the game away from us. We bowled really well until that point, but they were unbelievable, and we ended up chasing 20-30 more than we should have. Hoggy bowled beautifully, as did the others, but Dhoni did what he does best.
"
The only team capable of stopping Chennai from reaching the semi-finals are Lahore Lions, who will need to win big against Perth on Tuesday to push their net run rate pass the IPL side.
Sept. 27: Lahore Lions Keep Play-off Hopes Alive with Win over Dolphins
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Lahore Lions (364/5) bt. Dolphins (148/9) by 16 runs.
Lahore Lions kept their hopes to make it to the Twenty20 Champions League semi-finals alive, beating Dolphins by 16 runs on Saturday.
The Pakistani side elected to bat first, knowing a significant win was needed in order to maximise the team's net run rate. The early overs didn't go as planned, however. Lions' first five batsmen combined for just 25 runs on Bangalore's roughed-up pitch, as Robbie Frylinck (four overs, 22 runs, three wickets) found great success as Dolphins' top bowler.
Saad Nasim and Umar Akmal established an excellent partnership in the middle overs, however, with the former scoring 43 runs from 26 deliveries and the latter adding a whopping 73 from 45 not out.
The target of 165 seemed a manageable one for Dolphins, but more importantly, it gave Lions' few chances to gain on Chennai Super Kings' superior NRR.
Lahore's bowlers went after Dolphins' batsmen aggressively, and it paid off early. Cameron Delport, Cody Chetty and Keshav Maharaj all were dismissed in less than five deliveries, and just three of the team's batsmen managed double-digit runs. Frylinck was almost as good with bat in hand as he was bowling, however, scoring 63 runs from 27 balls not out.
Mohammad Hafeez set the tone with just 18 runs conceded in four overs (with two wickets), as Lahore had an excellent day bowling on Bangalore's slower pitch. The notable exception was Aizaz Cheema, surrendering 44 runs in just three overs for an economy rate of 14.66.
Hafeez was happy with his team's performance, as he told ESPNCricinfo.com:
"It's a beautiful game of cricket and we know that T20 can give you anything. Umar Akmal was exceptionally good and Saad Nasim gave him excellent support. Everyone chipped in very well. We were very confident, we knew we had very good spinners, and they have done a really good job.
"
Chennai still hold a significant advantage in NRR, and if they beat Perth Scorchers Saturday night, Lahore will have to beat the Australians by a clear mile to have any chance of making the play-offs. If Chennai loses, Tuesday's final Group A match between Perth and Lahore will see the winner qualify for the semi-finals.
Sept. 26: Cape Cobras Finally Win, Kings XI in the Semi-Final
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The Cape Cobras won their first match at the T20 Champions League in dramatic fashion. That was followed by the Kings XI Punjab booking a place in the semi-final.
The Cobras needed a one-over Super Over to decide their match with Barbados Tridents. The two teams had each made 174 at the wicket after 20 overs.
In the decider, offspinner Sybrand Engelbrecht got the better of Tridents's batsmen Jonathan Carter to end play. Carter had hit 111 for the Tridents in the regular overs.
However, none of his teammates could keep pace and offer support. This increased the pressure on Carter to take chances at the wicket, per ESPN CricInfo writer Alagappan Muthu:
"There were seven single-figure scores strewn amid Carter's effort. The Tridents suffered two early jolts and their run-rate was below six by the end of the Powerplay. That lack of foundation meant every bottom-handed bludgeon from Carter was highly necessary. Many times, he looked set to swing himself off his feet, the bat swirling back towards the base of his spine during the follow through. The straight boundary received significant attention, as he razed 58 of his runs in the V, including all five of his sixes.
"
After the game, Engelbrecht expressed his surprise at being trusted for the Super Over, per CLT20.com reporter Anand Subramaniam.
"I am not sure what the thought process was behind handing me the ball for the Super Over. I was just told that I will be bowling the Super Over and from there on I tried to make my plans. All the senior players were supportive and gave me a lot of advice when I was out to bowl the Super Over. They helped me out to be nice and calm which was great. When I walked out to bowl, I realised that it was very crucial to get the pace and the length right to defend that total in an over.
"
After the Cobra's dramatic win, the Kings XI Punjab advanced by beating the Northern Districts Knights. Kings XI set the Knights a run tally of 216 to chase.
That figure was inspired by the dual efforts of Virender Sehwag and Mana Vohra. The pair combined for 117 runs, with Sehwag's 52 complementing Vohra's 65, according to scorecard figures via ESPNCricInfo.com.
The Knights managed just 95 in response. The highest score was a mere 28, predictably coming from the bat of Anton Devcich.
Punjab bowler Karanveer Singh was the main reason the Knights' score stayed so low. The googly specialist helped take five wickets, including catching Devcich.
Kings XI are yet to lose and remain the dominant force in this tournament. The pressure will now switch to the Chennai Super Kings, who are next in action having won just one game out of three.
Sept. 25: Chennai Super Kings V Lahore Lions Abandoned
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Chennai Super Kings v Lahore Lions abandoned without a ball bowled.
Heavy clouds and thunderstorms greeted the players on arrival at Bangalore, and after a one-hour wait, event organisers had no choice but to abandon the match between Chennai Super Kings and Lahore Lions.
A deadline was set to play a limited five-overs match, but as the weather intensified, the pitch in Bangalore was effectively reduced to a collection of puddles with the occasional patch of grass.
Both teams will be given two points, setting up an interesting scenario for the race to the second play-off ticket in Group A. Kolkata Knight Riders have already qualified, while Chennai remain in the driver's seat for the second ticket. The washout benefits Lahore more, however.
If Super Kings lose to Perth Scorchers, the IPL side will be eliminated. Lahore are expected to beat Dolphins, setting up a match between Perth and Lions that will effectively amount to a quarter-final, the winner advancing to the play-offs.
Should Perth lose to Chennai, Lahore can still qualify by winning their last two matches and bettering Super Kings' net run rate.
Sept. 24: Kolkata Knight Riders Rain on Perth Scorchers' Parade
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Kolkata Knight Riders (153/7) bt. Perth Scorchers (151/7) by three wickets.
Suryakumar Yadav led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their 12th consecutive win on Wednesday, hitting an unbeaten 43 off 19 balls—including four sixes—as they reached Perth's victory target with two balls to spare.
The 24-year-old hit five boundaries in total but was unable to finish as the day's top scorer. That honour went to Adam Voges, who totalled an unbeaten 71 for Perth, an effort that eventually proved in vain.
The Knight Riders' winning streak wasn't extended with ease, but Gautam Gambhir's side proved their credentials in overcoming a stubborn Scorchers threat.
The Hyderabad hosts largely relied upon Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine with the ball, the pair taking three and four wickets respectively. Perth were somewhat more spread out in their attempts at diffusing the Knight Riders' threat, with only Ashton Agar and Brad Hogg failing to claim a wicket.
As a result, Kolkata are almost assured of a spot in the Champions League T20 semi-finals, needing Chennai Super Kings and Perth Scorchers to lose one more game each before their progress is sealed.
Per ESPN Cricinfo, captain Gambhir spoke highly of his team-mates' resolve in prolonging their unbeaten run:
"Guys have taken up great responsibility. Suryakumar Yadav, unbelievable innings, great head on his shoulders, he has got a great future. Also Kuldeep Yadav. We needed someone who can complement Sunil, he is someone who can. Piyush has also bowled well. Yusuf too, we have used him cleverly, it might help him produce runs. He has been hitting the ball well. Overall we are looking good. There is a lot of hunger in the dressing room.
"
The Knight Riders' final Group A fixture comes against the Dolphins on Monday, where they sit as extreme favourites to dispose of the pool's basement outfit.
Sept. 23: Hobart Hurricanes Embarrass Northern Districts
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Hobart Hurricanes (178/3) bt. Northern Districts (92) by 86 runs.
Hobart Hurricanes took a strong step toward qualification for the play-offs on Tuesday, beating Northern Districts in dominant fashion.
Hurricanes were sent out to bat first and found immediate success against a dreadful bowling attack which managed just three wickets during the innings. Every Hobart batsman managed at least double-digits, with the exception of Travis Birt, who only batted in the last over.
Aiden Blizzard led the way with 62 runs from 43 balls, while Shoaib Malik managed 45 from 22 and Tim Paine added 43 from 34. The trio took advantage of a struggling Trent Boult, who surrendered 43 runs in four overs without taking a wicket.
The victory target of 179 was a big one to chase on a bowler-friendly pitch in Raipur, and it became clear from the very first over Northern Districts wouldn't find an answer. The duo of Anton Devcich and Kane Williamson managed just five runs from 16 deliveries, and Daniel Flynn was dismissed on the very first ball he faced.
Nothern Knights' abysmal play continued, with the only solace being the play of Scott Styris. His 37 runs from 27 balls were solid, and he became just the second all-rounder to score 4,000 T20 runs, after Kieron Pollard.
Ben Hilfenhaus surrendered just 14 runs in four overs with three wickets, but Hobart's bowling effort was tremendous on every level.
Blizzard gave all the credit to Malik, as he told ESPN Cricinfo:
"It was quite tough out there. I knew if I hung in there, I knew Shoaib Malik is coming in, he's in superb form, I knew we could get a big total. It was a little two-paced, some were skidding on, some were stopping. I was able to go under the radar for a little bit. Shoaib is on fire, we're glad to have him.
"
With the win, Hurricanes pass Northern Districts in the Group B standings, and with just two matches left on the schedule, they appear to be in excellent shape to qualify for the play-offs.
The loss will hurt for Northern Knights, but the manner in which it came to pass will have a far more devastating effect. The New Zealanders were outplayed on every level, and they'll need a lot of help just to make it to the next round.
Sept. 22: Chennai Super Kings Blow Dolphins out of Water
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Chennai Super Kings (242/6) bt. Dolphins (188) by 54 runs.
Chennai Super Kings put up a batting clinic to comfortably dispatch of Dolphins on Monday, grabbing their first Twenty20 Champions League win of the season.
Super Kings were sent out to bat first, and the IPL side put on a show. Brendon McCullum scored 49 runs from 29 balls, but his performance was dwarfed by Suresh Raini, who smashed 90 from 43. Faf Du Plessis added another 30 from 19, and Ravindra Jadeja completed the party with 40 from 14.
Super Kings' batting display was phenomenal, and it was aided by some poor tactics from Dolphins. Khaya Zondo and Daryn Smith both found some success on the Bangalore pitch, but both men bowled just two overs.
Instead, Keshav Maharaj was given an extended look, surrendering 54 runs in four overs while taking one wicket. Robbie Frylinck hardly fared better, conceding 52 for two wickets. Craig Alexander leaked another 40 runs in just three overs, as all three sported an economy rate of 13.00 or over.
When it was Dolphins' turn to chase, the target stood at 242, a near-impossible task.
They got the start they were looking for, however, scoring in bunches in the first five overs. Morne van Wyk scored 17 runs in seven balls before the umpire inexplicably saw a non-existent LBW. Cameron Delport launched boundary after boundary, scoring 34 in just nine deliveries.
The pace soon dropped, however. Cody Chetty was able to contribute 37 from 28 and Vaugh van Jaarsveld added 30 from 22, but with an enormous target of 242 to chase, it simply wasn't enough.
Chennai's bowlers knew all they had to do was limit the rate at which Dolphins' scored, and Dwayne Bravo set the tone, conceding just 17 runs in four overs, taking two wickets.
MS Dhoni credited his batsmen for the win, but he expressed some concerns with the struggling Chennai bowling, via ESPN Cricinfo:
"We batted really well, the wicket remained quite the same, credit to Raina and McCullum for a great start, it was important to utilize all our resources so we went really hard. With out bowling struggling slightly it was important to get those 15-20 extra runs, even if we go down trying to get those runs. [about the bowling] if you want to win tournaments you have to come up with better performances, our batsmen won't score 240 every time.
"
Super Kings grab their first points of the campaign, and if their batting holds up, they have the power to make a big dent in the tournament. Dolphins are winless after two matches, and their bid to win the 2014 T20CL appears all but over.
Sept. 21: Kolkata Knight Riders Beat Lahore Lions
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Kolkata Knight Riders (153/6) bt. Lahore Lions (151/7) by 4 wickets.
Sunil Narine put on another bowling master class on Sunday, as Kolkata left it late to beat Lahore. The Sri Lankan spinner gave up just nine runs in four overs, picking up three wickets and finishing with an economy of 2.25. Kuldeep Yadav also put in a solid display bowling for the IPL champions, but their performances were offset by the rest of the squad.
Pat Cummings, Andre Russell and Piyush Chawla gave up a combined 111 runs on the Hyderabad pitch, with Ahmed Shezhad and and Umar Akmal contributing 99 of those between them. By the time the Lahore innings had ended, the target of 151 seemed well within Kolkata's reach.
Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir were phenomenal opening for the Indian side, the duo surviving past the 10th over. Uthappa scored 46 runs from 34 and Gambhir added 60 from 47, keeping the Knight Riders well within the required run rate.
Gambhir later told ESPN Cricinfo how pivotal those early overs can be for a team:
"Important that the openers give a good platform, made it easy for the middle order. Middle order had won us the last game. A kind of wicket where you never know what a good total is. Robin took his time and later played good shots. I do not want to be too critical (about the fielding). We have won 11 in a row which is a great achievement.
"
The middle overs weren't very kind on Kolkata. Manvinder Bisla scored just six from eight and Yusuf Pathan was dismissed on the 10th delivery he faced, adding just 11 runs. The match shouldn't have been close, as Lahore's fielding left much to be desired, but Knight Riders still needed Suryakumar Yadav (14 from five) to win it in the final over.
Aizaz Cheema took two wickets for Lions but gave up 42 runs in four overs, as he found no answer for the duo of Uthappa and Gambhir. The pitch appeared to deteriorate throughout the contest, however, perhaps explaining the bowlers' success in the middle and final overs.
Kolkata are now unbeaten in 11 straight and look like a safe bet to survive the group stages, but they'll need to find more consistency in their bowling outside of Narine to win this year's T20 CL.
Lahore gave the fans a good show, and this young squad certainly is an addition to this year's tournament.
Sept. 20: Kings XI Punjab Survive Against Barbados Tridents
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Kings XI Punjab (178/6) bt. Barbados Tridents (174/6) by 4 wickets.
Kings XI Punjab needed a late rally from the duo of David Miller and Akshar Patel to beat underdogs Barbados on Saturday, making up for the struggles of their bowlers for the second match in a row.
Tridents were sent out to bat first and got strong production from opening batsman Dilshan Munaweera, who scored 50 runs from 26 balls. Raymon Reifer added 60 from 42 as Patel and Parvinder Awana struggled with Mohali's pitch, both giving up more than 40 runs and finishing with economy rates in the double digits.
The West Indies' squad raced out to a score of 174, which would be a big target for most clubs. Punjab's powerful batsmen make any chase a manageable one, however, as the IPL side still appeared to be favourites to win the match.
Virender Sehwag scored 31 from 25 balls to set the tone, but Kings XI's batsmen failed to produce much in the middle overs. When Glenn Maxwell was dismissed with 16 runs from eight balls, Barbados suddenly appeared to be in excellent shape.
George Bailey and Thisara Perera failed to make up the difference, but Miller (46 runs from 34 balls) found an excellent partner in Patel, who scored 23 from 9 and routinely found the boundary.
Barbados' bowlers did all they could but couldn't stop the offensive onslaught in the final four overs, and Rampaul (four overs, 50 runs surrendered, two wickets) coudn't stop Miller from hitting the final six to give his team the win.
The South African credited the play of his partner, via ESPN Cricinfo:
"Only towards the end did it hit one out of the ground. Akshay made it easy and took a lot of pressure off my shoulders. I was lucky up front, getting a few chances, but once I'm in I back myself to hit the boundaries. It's a see-ball-hit-ball type mentality. We've got some great spinners and some quicks. Perera is showing some strength for the team. He can clear the boundary and takes wickets as well.
"
Kings XI now take a firm lead in Group B and look like a safe bet to make the play-offs, while Barbados will look to rebound when they take on Cape Cobras on Friday.
Sept 20: Perth Scorchers Win Nailbiter over Nashua Dolphins
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Perth Scorchers (165/4) bt. Nashua Dolphins (164/7) by 6 wickets.
Perth Scorchers needed two sixes from Mitch Marsh on the final two deliveries to complete an epic chase, stealing the win from Nashua Dolphins.
Dolphins won the toss and elected to bat, but the trio of Morne van Wijck, Cameron Delport and Cody Chetty were all dismissed within the first two overs. The South Africans soon established a solid rhythm, doing much of their damage in the final 10 overs.
Khayelihle Zondo scored 63 runs from 50 balls and Keshav Maharaja added 29 from 22 on a batter friendly pitch in Mohali, as the Scorchers bowlers couldn't keep up their blistering start.
Jason Behrendorff surrendered 46 runs in four overs, with three wickets and an economy rate of 11.50, while Yasir Arafat didn't fare much better, conceding 42 in four with two wickets. Joel Paris' excellent four overs (21 runs conceded, two wickets, 5.25 economy) kept the target down however, Dolphins finishing with a score of 164/7.
Craig Simmons opened well for the Aussies with 48 runs from 36 balls, but some excellent bowling from Kyle Abott (four overs, 25 runs, one wicket) soon saw Perth fall behind the required run rate. It fell to Marsh and Sam Whiteman to make something happen in the final overs, and both stepped up bigtime.
Whiteman scored 45 from 32 balls, giving Marsh a chance against Robert Frylinck (four overs, 32 runs, one wicket) in the final over. Four good deliveries were followed by two full tosses, and both went for six.
Adan Voges couldn't believe what he had just witnessed, per ESPN Cricinfo:
"What a finish, An incredible game, we played really well. To get 12 off the last two balls and Mitch hitting them for sixes. Great. They batted deep so they kept coming. Joel Paris bowled beautifully early on, things went a little awry in the latter stages. In the Big Bash we found ways to win games and Kolkata is next.
"
Perth survived against Nashua, but only barely. A similar performance against the Kolkata Knight Riders or Chennai Super Kings will surely end in a loss, and the Aussies still have plenty of work to do. For Nashua, it seems all but impossible to find a way to qualify for the knockout stages from a very deep Group A.
Sept 19: Northern Districts Knights Thrash Cape Cobras
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Northern Districts Knights made easy work of the Cape Cobras in the T20 Champions League group stage. The Knights amassed 206 runs, thanks largely to the 101 provided by Kane Williamson.
By contrast, all the Cobras could muster were a mere 44 runs. That gave the Knights a commanding 33-run margin of victory under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
As ESPNCricInfo.com reporter Siddarth Ravindran noted, only the weather prevented total humiliation for the Cobras:
"In most Twenty20 matches, the brevity of the format allows teams a chance to mount a comeback even if the scorecard makes for grim reading. This did not seem like one of those matches. Kane Williamson showed off his increasing proficiency in the format with a maiden T20 century to lead Northern Knights to their highest score, and Trent Boult and Tim Southee underlined their customary threat with the new ball to leave Cobras on the mat. By the time the rain came down in the eighth over of the chase, the asking rate was already nearing 13 and saved Cobras from what was shaping to be an hour of minimising the margin of defeat.
"
Still, the conditions can't take away from what the Knights did. The calculated final score certainly did not flatter them.
That much is obvious from just a glance at the full scorecard, courtesy of ESPNCricInfo.com. That offers a sobering breakdown of the extent of the damage the Knights inflicted at the wicket.
While Williamson's century naturally stands out, it didn't hurt to have 67 more runs from lefty Anton Devcich. Like Williamson, the New Zealand international hit eight fours during his time at the wicket, but he couldn't match the five deliveries Williamson smashed over the boundary for sixes.
This duo is going to be key for the Knights during the T20 CL. Their efforts have already put the Districts top of Group B, with the Kings XI Punjab level on four points, but with an inferior run rate.
Sept 18: Kings XI Punjab Start T20 Champions League on Winning Note
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Kings XI Punjab (146/5) bt. Hobart Hurricanes (144/6) by 5 wickets
Hobart Hurricanes were eyeing an upset after taking two early wickets against Kings XI Punjab, but the IPL finalists raced back to record a comfortable win on Thursday.
Kings XI won the toss and elected to field, putting the pressure on the Australians to record a big target for Punjab's powerful batsmen to chase.
Kings found some success early on, as Tim Paine was dismissed after 16 balls, contributing 11 runs. Partner Ben Dunk put in a solid 26 from 25 balls, setting the pace for Hurricanes' innings.
Their first six batsmen all reached double figures, with Travis Birt and Jonathan Wells leading the team with 28. However, the run rate (7.2 runs per over) was nothing to intimidate the Punjab batsmen and so it later proved.
Thisara Perera took charge for Punjab's bowlers, surrendering 17 runs in three overs, taking two wickets for an economy rate of 5.66. Anureet Singh and Parvinder Awana both returned figures of 0 for 25, while Akshar Patel proved most miserly and took the wicket of Paine.
A target of 145 was a solid score for Hobart, although Kings XI's powerful group of batsmen always have the potential to chase down such a score in comfortable fashion.
Their innings couldn't have started any worse, as Virender Sehwag was caught on the very first delivery. A poorly timed shot fell straight to Cameron Boyce, who made no mistake.
Things went from bad to worse in the early innings for the Indian team. Wriddhiman Saha managed just 11 runs from nine balls, and David Miller failed to score a single run, dismissed on the fourth delivery he faced.
Punjab were well behind the required rate, but Glenn Maxwell restored order with 43 runs from 25 balls. George Bailey added 34 from 27 and Perera scored 35 from 20, as the Hurricanes' bowlers struggled tremendously during the middle and final overs.
Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus both leaked 30 runs in four overs, taking three wickets between them, while Boyce failed to build on his strong start, surrendering 36 in three overs for an economy rate of 12.00.
Maxwell told ESPN Cricinfo Hurricanes' strong group of bowlers and the pitch made it difficult to judge whether Hobart's target was a strong one:
"I suppose today was a bit tough, they have a very good fast bowling cartel coming at us taking three wickets early, Bailey and Perera have loads of experience, this was a sort of pitch on which it is tough to tell what is a good score.
"
The favourites in Group B got off to a solid start against Hobart, and they'll look to duplicate that result when they take on Barbados Tridents on Saturday. Hobart will have a chance to bounce back from this loss a day later, when they play Cape Cobras.
Sept 17: Kolkata Come Back to Stun Super Kings
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Kolkata Knight Riders (159/7) bt Chennai Super Kings (157/4) by 3 wickets
Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a superb victory in the opener of the 2014 Champions League T20 on Wednesday as they came back from an early-innings collapse to beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets.
Chennai had posted a respectable, if not extraordinary, total of 157 but looked to be on their way to victory when the IPL champions were 21-4 in the fifth over.
However, Ryan ten Doeschate and Andre Russell put together a terrific partnership in the middle overs, and Kolkata claimed the victory with an over to spare.
The Knight Riders won the toss and put Chennai in to bat, openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum putting on 37 runs in four overs before the West Indian fell to the bowling of Piyush Chawla for 20.
Chennai were then four down for 86 runs in the 13th over but did not lose another wicket, and MS Dhoni's 35 from 20 balls took them to a total they could defend.
They got off to a fine start with the ball and had Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Manvinder Bisla all out for single figures inside five overs and Suryakumar Yadav fell for one soon after.
However, Ten Doeschate and Russell then turned on the power, both claiming half-centuries—the latter with 58 off just 25 balls—and Kolkata cruised to victory despite Ashish Nehra's brilliant bowling figures of 4-21.
Kolkata will take great confidence from a fine start to the competition, especially as they had been staring at a significant loss early in their innings.
Chennai must look to bounce back when they face Dolphins on Monday, while the Knight Riders play Lahore Lions on Sunday.
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