Chennai Super Kings led by pragmatic Dhoni made a fight out of a match that was heading towards the opposite side at the half-way stage of the match. Chasing a below par target of 143 Deccan Chargers were floored by Chennai's spirited bowling attack led by the indefatigable Bollinger who claimed four wickets. In the end Chennai got better of Deccan Chargers by 38 runs.
Dhoni had no hesitation in electing to bat first believing that his top-order would fire. Hayden (8, 9b, 2x4) failed to utilise the two drops that he benefited while Vijay (15, 10b, 1x6, 1x4) after playing a couple of glorious shots was trapped leg-before by an accurate Harris. Raina (2, 4b) misjudged the movement off the pitch as he tried to drive on the up and was caught behind of Symonds. With Chennai Super Kings were tottering at 29 for 3 in 4.5 overs when Dhoni joined Badrinath in the middle. While Dhoni hustled between the wickets collecting boundaries on the way Badrinath was content to rotate the strike. The pair calmed the frayed nerves in the Chennai dug-out with a stabilising partnership of 52 in 8.3 overs with Dhoni being the dominant partner.
Just when Dhoni looked well set to take the game away from Deccan Chargers Harmeet Singh once again brought out his no famous leg-cutters. Dhoni (30, 32b, 3x4) was sucked into playing at a ball that spun away from him into the hands of Rohit Sharma at the lone slip. Expectations were high when Morkel (4, 4b) came out but the left-hander failed to get going. Badrinath soon opened up as he began to take the attack to the bowlers. First he deposited Ojha over long-off for a maximum before slamming Symonds over midwicket for a boundary to keep Chennai hopes afloat.
Badrinath (38, 41b, 1x6, 3x4) tried hard but failed to ignite the last over slog as the Deccan bowlers were on spot in the last overs. The right-hander was finally stumped and it was left to Anirudh Srikkanth (28, 15b 2x6, 2x4) to use the long handle. At the end of their 20 overs Chennai huffed and puffed to 142 for the loss of seven wickets.
Dhoni as usual handed the new ball to Ashwin who was spot on from ball number one. He was well complimented by a fiery Bollinger at the other hand who slipped in a maiden in the second over of the innings. Gilchrist and Gibbs were kept quiet though the former slammed a six and a boundary to break the shackles. Gilchrist's (15, 20b, 1x6, 1x4) struggle was ended when he clipped a fuller length from Bollinger straight to Anirudh Srikkanth and the bowler removed Suman (4, 4b, 1x4) in the very same over to leave Deccan reeling at 23 for 2.
Deccan slid further as they lost Rohit Sharma (2, 5b) who foolishly tried to go down-town with long-on in position and found Muralitharan who accepted the catch gleefully. Chennai bowlers led by a pro-active Dhoni tightened the noose around the necks of the Deccan batsmen before Gibbs (18, 26b, 1x6) chopped Jakati back onto his stumps. Mishra (2, 5b) relayed his intentions too early as Jakati had his stumped as Chennai Super Kings were all over Deccan Chargers.
Deccan's hopes of making it into the finals rested on the shoulders of Symonds who struck a couple of lusty blows. Symonds (23, 22b, 3x4) was dismissed as he tried to loft a canny Ashwin into the midwicket stand but found Vijay at deep-midwicket. Bollinger continued to show as to why Chennai hit a jackpot as the left-arm pacer removed Harris (15, 8b, 1x6, 1x4) and Sumanth (16, 18b, 2x4) to cap of a brilliant spell. Muralitharan joined the party as he removed Harmeet Singh (0, 1b) leg-before while Raina brought curtains to Deccan's innings as he removed Ojha (1, 4b) to meet Mumbai Indians in the final.