Chennai Super Kings' chances for asemifinal berth in the Champions League Twenty20 suffered ablow as they slumped to their second consecutive defeat in thetournament with a six-wicket loss at the hands of HighveldLions here on Tuesday.
After being sent into bat, Chennai posted a challenging158 for six with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni top-scoring with34 but the Lions chased down the target with three balls tospare in a thrilling Group B match that went down the wire atthe Newlands.
Opener Gulam Bodi smashed a 46-ball 64 to play a big rolein the Lions' win. The local side now are in a very goodposition to make it to the semifinals having beaten defendingchampions Mumbai Indians in their opening match on October 14.
Chennai, who had lost to Sydney Sixers in their openingmatch on October 14, squandered a sensational start in theirdefence of 158.
Pacer Doug Bollinger (2/18) got two quick wickets early onto reduce the Lions to eight runs for two in the third overbut Chennai allowed the local side to wriggle out of the tightspot and then to eventually win the match.
Chennai will now have to win both their remaining matchesto have any chance of making it to the semifinals.
Bodi and Neil McKenzie (32) shared a 93-run stand for thethird wicket from 9.5 overs to turn the tide in favour of theLions.
The Lions needed 51 from the last five overs and 20 fromthe last two overs and they did it in style by reaching 159for four with three balls to spare.
For Chennai, Ravichandran Ashwin and Albie Morkel took awicket each, besides the two wickets by Bollinger for 18 runs.