Suresh Raina's ton seals CSK's second CLT20 title

Suresh Raina's unbeaten 109 off 62 balls powered Chennai Super Kings to their second Champions League T20 (CLT20) on Saturday as they thumped the Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the final at Bangalore. Chennai chased down 181-run target with nine balls to spare.

Chasing a competitive total of 181, Raina smashed each and every KKR bowler out of the park and Gautam Gambhir and Co. surely missed their ace spinner Sunil Narine. Raina's 109 included six fours and eight sixes. Raina is now the only player to score a century in T20 Internationals, IPL and CLT20 tournaments.

This is CSK's first trophy in three years having last won the IPL and CLT20 in South Africa, back in 2011. CSK lost IPL final to KKR in 2012 and also lost twice in IPL this year.

Chasing down a competitive total of 181, CSK lost the wicket of Dwayne Smith in the first over thanks to a great yorker by Pat Cummins. However Raina came out to take the control of the proceedings. Raina's footwork against spinners was out of the coaching manual as he came to the pitch of the deliveries and effortlessly lifted the spinners like Piyush Chawla (0/38) and Kuldeep Yadav (0/44) out of the park.

Raina spoiled the party for young chinaman bowler Kuldeep, who on Saturday got a maiden call-up into Indian ODI side. Kuldeep was lofted into the stands thrice as Raina danced down the track. He along with Brendon McCullum added 118 runs in only 12.2 overs. McCullum, who scored 39 off 30 balls perished trying to hit Yusf Pathan out of the park. With 58 needed off 5.2 overs, MS Dhoni walked in the middle and he along with Raina made sure that their were no nervy moments at the end.

Dhoni finished the match with a flourish as he hit successive sixes off Pathan as CSK won with nine balls to spare. Dhoni remained not out on 23 off 14 balls.

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