Date:24/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032456501900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Lions wins a thriller

PANCHKULA: In a thrilling encounter, Chandigarh Lions defeated Chennai Superstars by four runs in the Indian Cricket League’s Edelweiss 20s Challenge at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Saturday.

Chandigarh Lions, opting to bat, scored 195 for eight in 20 overs. But chasing the target, Chennai Superstars fell short of four runs.

Chandigarh Lions, opting to bat, began well with its openers Lou Vincent and Matthew Elliot putting on 63 runs for the opening wicket.

T. Kumaran put the brakes on Lions’ scoring rate removing Elliot and No. 3 Manish Sharma. At one stage, Lions was 83 for five. It was left to skipper Chris Cairns to repair the damage and he did it in style. He hit five boundaries and five sixes in his 32-ball 67. Chandigarh Lions finished at 195 for eight in 20 overs.The Chennai Superstars openers Ian Harvey and G. Vignesh laid the foundation by scoring at a brisk pace. Vignesh hammered Tuffey to all parts of the ground and Harvey played the perfect support role.

The slide began when Vignesh was caught by Chetan Sharma off Tuffey.

The scores: Chandigarh Lions 195 in 20 overs (L. Vincent 42, C. Cairns 67, Syed Mohammed three for 36, T. Kumaran three for 27) bt Chennai Superstars 191 (I. Harvey 58, G. Vignesh 42, Abilish three for 19).