CSK defeats Stags by 57 runs | Chennai Super Kings beat Stags by 57 runs in CLT20 | Airtel CLT20 Live Scores

DURBAN: Subramaniam Badrinath struck an unbeaten 52 to save the batting before a disciplined effort by the bowlers as Chennai Super Kings beat Central Stags by 57 runs in a Champions League Twenty20 match on Saturday.


Badrinath's counterattacking 52 from 42 balls was mainly responsible for CSK reaching 151/4 after they were down 5/2 in the second over and 48/3 at halfway mark after electing to bat. He was supported by Srikkanth Anirudha (42) and the duo shared 73 runs from 49 balls for the fourth wicket to take CSK score past 150 on a spongy Kingsmead pitch which saw odd balls kicking up to trouble the batsmen.This batting was later complimented by the CSK bowlers who managed to bowl out the Stags  for 94 in 18.1 overs to start their campaign on a winning note. Chasing 152 for a win, the New Zealand champion side initially looked like they would stand up for a challenge but after they lost their first wicket in the fourth over they were reckoned out of the chase.

Pacer Laxmipathy Balaji was the most successful CSK bowler with 3/20 from his four overs while Muttiah Muralitharan, Ravichandran Ashwin and Doug Bollinger claiming two wickets each. Opener Peter Ingram was the first Central Stags batsman to go in the fourth over for six as he top-edged an Albie Morkel delivery to Suresh Raina at cover at team score of 12/1. He was earlier dropped while on one in the second ball of their innings by Ravichandran Ashwin. CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni introduced off-spinner Ashwin in the sixth over and got the result immediately in the form of Jamie How's wicket.From then on it was slaughter for the Central District Stags.

This once again proves the superiority of Dhoni's Captaincy and all-round performance of the team