Rajasthan Royals on Final Clt20

Chennai failed to breach the fortress as Ajinkya Rahane cracked his third successive half-century before Pravin Tambe returned figures of 3/10 from four overs and helped Rajasthan to the final of the World Twenty20 League, defeating the two-time Indian T20 League champions by 14 runs.

Chennai were up against a stiff task, chasing 160 to reach their second World T20 League final against a competent Rajasthan bowling attack. Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay, the openers, did not help the team's cause departing within three overs of each other. S Badrinath, sent up the order to consolidate the innings did not last long either and was snapped up by Pravin Tambe in the ninth over while Rahul Shukla dealt Chennai with their biggest blow, getting rid of skipper MS Dhoni in the next. It seemed curtains for Chennai when Tambe sent back Dwayne Bravo, reducing the visitors to 61/5 and if they had any hopes of a fightback from Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, they were soon crushed when the latter tried to cut Shane Watson but only managed a nick to Dishant Yagnik behind the stumps.

The Chennai middle-order's capitulation was complete and shocking, with a star-studded batting line up crumbling without a semblance of a fight. Barring Raina (29 off 23), who became Tambe's third victim, none of the other batsmen looked like they were capable enough to handle Rajasthan's little known but spirited bowlers. However, R Ashwin fought bravely with a blistering 28-ball 46 that at least got Chennai close to the target but his dismissal in the fourth delivery of the last ball of the innings sealed their fate.

It is not that Rajasthan got off to the best of starts either. Rahul Dravid's poor form continued and he departed early after Chennai had put the hosts in before Kevon Cooper blasted 14 off seven to boost the scoring rate. Sanju Samson failed for once and his dismissal in the ninth over got Watson and Rahane together and the pair stitched a valuable 59-run partnership for the third wicket, that ensured Rajasthan were headed to a strong total. Much to Chennai's credit, their bowlers hit back hard after that stand but Rahane anchored the innings beautifully to score 70 (56 balls) as Rajasthan reached a healthy 159/8 off their 20 overs.

Rajasthan will now wait to play the winner of the game between Mumbai and Trinidad & Tobago to know who they face in the final in Delhi on Sunday.