CLT20 2014: Qualification scenario for Chennai Super Kings
With three of the four semi-finalists already decided – Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Hobart Hurricanes, the other two teams that are in contention for the one remaining spot are Chennai Super Kings and Lahore Lions.
Winning 2 of the 3 completed matches and taking 2 points out of a rained-out fixture, the Super Kings are on 10 points with a net run-rate of +0.945, while Lahore Lions, winning 1 out of the 2 completed matches and taking the other two points of the washed out match, are on 6 points with a net run-rate of +0.255.
The Lions play Perth Scorchers in their last Group A fixture on September 29 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore; to get ahead of the Super Kings on NRR, the Pakistan domestic T20 champions have to beat the Scorchers either by 47 runs, while batting first, or 33 balls to spare, in case they bowl first.
Renowned statistician Mohandas Menon tweeted:
Lahore Lions need to beat Perth Scorchers by 47 runs or by 33 balls to spare to better CSK's current NRR of 0.945 #PERvCSK #CLT20
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 27, 2014
With Scorchers found wanting against spin in their last two matches, the Lions’ chances can’t yet be ruled out, although the task is too demanding. However, given the nature of the Lions’ batting line-up, who lack application and are susceptible against pace bowling, the MS Dhoni-led team look like the favourites to reach the semi-finals, thereby making the knockouts IPL-heavy.
| Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | NRR |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 | 3 | 0 | +0.344 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 | 2 | 1 | +0.945 |
| Lahore Lions | 3 | 1 | 1 | +0.255 |
| Perth Scorchers | 3 | 1 | 2 | -0.277 |
| Dolphins | 3 | 0 | 3 | -1.183 |
Robert Frylinck factor
That the Super Kings find themselves in such a good position is largely due to Dolphins’ pace bowling all-rounder Robert Frylinck. Chasing 164 in their last match, against the Lions, the Dolphins were down and out at 93-9 in 15.4 overs, but the right hander was in no mood to give up that fast. He injected life into the game scoring a stunning 63* off 27 deliveries to take the total close to 164 and, in turn, cut down on the NRR boost that the Pakistani team would have, otherwise, received.
Had Lahore Lions won by a bigger margin of 65+ runs their NRR would have been around 1.62 as against CSK's current 1.08 #DOLvLIO #CLT20
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 27, 2014
Not just with the bat, his figures of 3-22 with the ball in his 4 overs also played a part in making the match competitive. After scalping a couple of early wickets, the 30-year-old came back to bowl a brilliant last two overs against the rampaging pair of Umar Akmal and Saad Nasim, conceding only 16 runs and also getting get rid of the latter. The two Lions’ batsmen had scored 92 runs in 8.5 overs before being separated, thereby taking the score from 34-4 in 7.2 overs to 126/5 in 16.1 overs.