Chennai crush helpless Wayamba in CL

Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay destroy Wayamba Elevens to set up a second successive win for the Chennai Super Kings.

CENTURION: Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay destroyed the Wayamba Elevens bowling to set up a second successive win for the Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League Twenty20.

Raina hit a whirlwind 87 and Vijay 68 as Chennai raced to a tournament-best 200 for three after put in to bat. In reply, Wayamba were dismissed for 103 as Chennai took control of Group A.

The Indian Premier League champions won their opening match against Central Stags by 57 runs and with two matches remaining, they remain favourites to reach the semi-finals.

Opener Vijay set the early pace but once the left-handed Raina settled in, and played stunning strokes, his 87 came off only 44 balls. The pair put on 137 in just 12 overs for the second wicket as carnage set in early. Raina looked set for his century until he was caught by a leaping Jehan Mubarak at cover off Chanaka Welegedara with 15 balls remaining in the innings.

Facing a mammoth ask, Wayamba started their chase disastrously, with the Sri Lankan side losing their first six wickets for just 35 runs in six overs.

Albie Morkel took a wicket with the second ball of the innings in an opening spell of three for 22. Doug Bollinger claimed the key wicket of Mahela Jayawardene, caught at third man for 10, and Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets in his first over to finish with four for 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2010.