Mumbai Indians have qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League T20 after Trinidad and Tobago completed a dramatic two-wicket win over Cape Cobras in Chennai on Tuesday.
Cobras, on three points before the match, needed a win to ensure qualification but the loss means the Indians are assured of a last four berth while T&T, Chennai Super Kings and New South Wales are still in the mix for the second semi-final spot.
Electing to bat first, Cobras made a competitive 137 for 4 with Owais Shah (unbeaten 63 off 50 balls) and Dane Vilas (54 off 44) doing most of the scoring.
The T&T chase never really gained any momentum until very late as Dale Steyn was on the top of his game conceding just three runs off three overs and claiming one wicket with the new ball.
Justin Kemp (3-22) matched Steyn's effort while Charl Langeveldt (2-22), Rory Kleinvedlt (1-15) and Robin Peterson (1-30) also chipped in.
On a pitch not conducive for stroke-making, only Darren Bravo (29 off 36) managed to offer early resistance before some late hitting from Denesh Ramdin (24 off 21), Sherwin Ganga (11 off 7) and Kevon Cooper (25 off 11) completed an incredible win.
T&T needed 53 to win off the last five overs when Ramdin started the comeback with Ganga also doing his bit to keep the required run rate from going beyond control.
But with both the batsmen dismissed within a space of four balls, Cobras once again gained the upper hand with 32 required off 17 balls.
But Cooper, who played a similar cameo against the Super Kings earlier in the competition, struck vital blows to keep them in the hunt.
Steyn returned for the penultimate over with 24 needed off 12 and conceded 15 runs while Langeveldt bowled a no ball in the final over as T&T complete a thrilling win.
Earlier, T&T began the day positively with Samuel Badree (1-19) knocking back Richard Levi's (0) off stump off the second ball and Ravi Rampaul sending back Herschelle Gibbs (2 off 9) to leave Cobras at 10 for 2 in the fourth over.
But Vilas and Shah combined well to get the innings back on track with a 87-run partnership off 67 balls. Shah took over the onus of scoring once Vilas departed and ensured the Cobras reached a defendable total.
Source: Sportal.co.in
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