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18-Sep-2010 02:47:00 GMT
Chennai Super Kings v Victoria Bushrangers, CLT20 2010, Port Elizabeth

In-form Chennai Take on Bushrangers in Champions League T20

Port Elizabeth: On a roll after two consecutive wins, IPL champions Chennai Super Kings face their toughest test yet when they take on Australian side Victoria Bushrangers in their third Group A match of the Champions League Twenty20 on Saturday.

In the other game of the day, New Zealand's struggling team Central Districts will face off against unbeaten South African side Warriors at the same venue.

Chennai have been on a roll so far in the tournament with big wins over Central Districts and Wayamba Elevens but repeating the dominating performance against David Hussey's Victoria would not be all that easy for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.

Batting is Chennai's strength and this was evident in the way they attacked Wayamba's bowling to pile up 200 runs in their previous match.

Murali Vijay, Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina were in destructive form against Wayamba and would be looking to continue from where they left.

The explosive Albie Morkel and Dhoni are also known game-changers in case Chennai's top-order has a bad day in office.

Morkel, in fact, comes in handy with the ball as well as he showed by picking up three wickets against Wayamba in the previous match.

Spin is Chennai's strength in the bowling department with Sri Lankan wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and Indian off-spinner R Ashwin delivering the goods for the team.

Laxmipathy Balaji has been steering the pace attack well and has been economical in a batsman-dominated format.

Victoria, on the other hand, beat Central Districts after the opening-match loss to the Warriors.

Opener Aaron Finch sparkled in their win with a 60-ball 93 with Hussey and Andrew McDonald also looking in good touch.

The tested pace duo of Peter Siddle and Dirk Nannes is in fine form, making Victoria a balanced side which could be a tough nut to crack for Chennai.

In the other game, it is a battle of survival for Central Districts from here on after losing their first two matches.

Jamie How's men, perhaps one of the most low-profile teams in fray in the multi-million-dollar event, have another tough match at hand against the Warriors.

Without any major stars in the line up, the Kiwi side is expected to once against struggle against the home team, led by Davey Jacobs.

Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher are part of the Warriors batting line-up which will be hard to contain for the Central Districts bowlers.

In Makhaya Ntini and Nicky Boje, the Warriors have the experience and the understanding of the conditions that makes them a firm favourite for a third successive win on Saturday.

Team from

Chennai Super Kings:
MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Muttiah Muralitharan, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Doug Bollinger, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Shadab Jakati, Lakshmipathy Balaji, S Badrinath, Ravichandran Ashwin, Srikkanth Anirudha, Albie Morkel, Joginder Sharma, Justin Kemp

Victoria Bushrangers: David Hussey (capt), Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, Brad Hodge, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade, Ryan Carters (wk), John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson

Stats and trivia

  • Brad Hodge holds the record for most 50-plus scores in all Twenty20s, 23. On that count, Suresh Raina is the highest among Chennai batsmen, with 14 scores of over 50 and over.
  • Dirk Nannes, with 58 wickets in 2010, is two behind Kieron Pollard, the No. 1 on that list. Whoever wins that contest will also hold the record for most wickets in any calendar year.

Match facts
Saturday September 18, 2010 (day/night)
Start time 17:30 local (15:30 GMT)


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