September 19, 2026 02:47 am (IST)
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Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni guide CSK to CLT20 victory
Bangalore, Oct 4 (IBNS) Suresh Raina played a heroic knock of 62-ball 109 to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets in the final of the Champions League T20 and lift the title here on Saturday.
Chasing KKR's 180 fro six , MS Dhoni and his men reached the target of 185 runs by losing two wickers with nine balls to spare.
CSK shattered KKR's hope of clinching the title for the first time as Dhoni smashed two huge sixes in the 18th over to lift the title for the second time.
Dhoni, who has been captaining the side since the first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), continued to be the lucky mascot for CSK as he added another feather to the club's cap.
With eight more runs in the bag, Pathan came to bowl the 18th over and it was Dhoni who showed the charisma with his willow with his two sixes.
KKR had qualified for the final of the tournament for the first time.
Expectations were high from Shah Rukh Khan's IPL-winning side as they lost no match in the tournament so far.
It was, however, Suresh Raina who showed his heroics with the willow on Saturday night.
Raina thoroughly entertained his fans in the stadium and across the world with his brilliant unbeaten knock of 62-ball 109. He hit six boundaries and eight sixes.
CSK lost the wicket of Dwayne Smith (8) early but Raina and Brendon McCullum (39) added 118 run sin the second wicket partnership to recover from 9-1 to 127 for two in 12 overs.
McCullum departed as Yusuf Pathan took his wicket and gave a slim hope to KKR fans of making a comeback in the game.
But Raina gave no such scopes to KKR and taking Dhoni (23) as his partner finished off the game in style.
With no Sunil Narine in the side, KKR bowlers failed miserably in the match.
Pathan and Pat Cummins picked up a wicket each.
Earlier, CSK won the toss and send KKR to bat first.
Skipper Gautam Gambhir played a heroic knock of 52-ball 80 which helped the side post a competitive 180 for six on the scoreboard.
Gambhir smashed seven boundaries and three sixes in his knock.
Robin Utappa (39) and Gambhir gave KKR a solid start at at the top of the innings as they duo added 91 runs in the first wicket partnership.
Manish Pandey (32) and Yusuf Pathan (20) made some important contributions with their willows in the match.
Pawan Negi shined with the ball for CSK by picking up five wickets by giving away 22 runs in his four overs.
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