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Rediff.com  » Sports » Unbeaten Chennai face Victorian challenge

Unbeaten Chennai face Victorian challenge

Last updated on: September 17, 2010 16:30 IST

Image: Suresh Raina
Photographs: Reuters

On a roll after two consecutive wins, IPL champions Chennai Super Kings face their toughest test when they take on Australian side Victoria Bushrangers in their third Group A match of the Champions League Twenty20 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

In the other game of the day, New Zealand's struggling team Central Districts will face off against unbeaten South African side Warriors at the same venue.

Chennai have been on a roll so far in the tournament with big wins over Central Districts and Wayamba Elevens but repeating the dominating performance against David Hussey's Victoria would not be all that easy for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.

Batting is Chennai's strength and this was evident in the way they attacked Wayamba's bowling to pile up 200 runs in their previous match.

Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina were in destructive form against Wayamba and would be looking to continue from where they left.

Chennai's strength lies in their spin attack

Image: Muttiah Muralitharan

The explosive Albie Morkel and Dhoni are also known game-changers in case Chennai's top-order has a bad day in office.

Morkel, in fact, comes in handy with the ball as well, and he showed this by picking up three wickets against Wayamba.

Spin is Chennai's strength in the bowling department with Sri Lankan wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and Indian off-spinner R Ashwin delivering the goods for the team.

Laxmipathy Balaji has been steering the pace attack well and has been economical in a batsmen-dominated format.

Victoria have a balanced squad

Image: Aaron Finch

Victoria, on the other hand, beat Central Districts after the opening-match loss to the Warriors.

Opener Aaron Finch sparkled in their win with a 60-ball 93 with Hussey and Andrew McDonald also looking in good touch.

The tested pace duo of Peter Siddle and Dirk Nannes too can make the batsmen's life tough, making making Victoria a tough nut to crack for Chennai.

Central Districts must beat Warriors to survive

Image: Central Districts Doug Bracewell and Tim Weston (left)

The other game of the day is a battle of survival for Central Districts, who lost their first two matches.

Jamie How's men, perhaps one of the most low-profile team in the fray, in the multi-million-dollar event, have another tough match on hand against the Warriors.

Without any major stars in the line up, the Kiwi side is expected to once again struggle against the home team, led by Davey Jacobs.

Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher are part of the Warriors batting line-up which will be hard to contain for the Central Districts bowlers.

In Makhaya Ntini and Nicky Boje, the Warriors have the experience and the understanding of the conditions that makes them a firm favourite for a third successive win on Saturday.

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