Chennai Super Kings: Road to the final

May 25, 2013

<b>A circumspect start:</b> Chennai Super Kings played three of their first four matches in Chennai, but suffered two losses - against Mumbai Indians and Pune Warriors. But in between came a jailbreak against Royal Challengers Bangalore, when RP Singh overstepped off the last ball, and a thumping 10-wicket win in Mohali

A circumspect start: Chennai Super Kings played three of their first four matches in Chennai, but suffered two losses - against Mumbai Indians and Pune Warriors. But in between came a jailbreak against Royal Challengers Bangalore, when RP Singh overstepped off the last ball, and a thumping 10-wicket win in Mohali•BCCI

<b>Golden Run:</b> MS Dhoni and Mike Hussey produced alternate Man-of-the-Match performances to stretch the winning streak to six matches. Hussey narrowly missed out on a century in a high-scoring match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai.

Golden Run: MS Dhoni and Mike Hussey produced alternate Man-of-the-Match performances to stretch the winning streak to six matches. Hussey narrowly missed out on a century in a high-scoring match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai. •BCCI

<b>U-turn:</b> Super Kings immediately corrected their blip after a dominating performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Teams had struggled to put up good totals in Hyderabad, but Raina slammed an unbeaten 99 as Super Kings posted 223 and won the match by 77 runs.

U-turn: Super Kings immediately corrected their blip after a dominating performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Teams had struggled to put up good totals in Hyderabad, but Raina slammed an unbeaten 99 as Super Kings posted 223 and won the match by 77 runs.•BCCI

<b>Happy travellers:</b> Mike Hussey laid the foundation of a strong total with an unbeaten half-century in Delhi, before Mohit Sharma led the bowling with a three-wicket haul to script an 86-run win. The team travelled to Kolkata where an all-round performance by Ravindra Jadeja helped them to an easy win over the defending champions.

Happy travellers: Mike Hussey laid the foundation of a strong total with an unbeaten half-century in Delhi, before Mohit Sharma led the bowling with a three-wicket haul to script an 86-run win. The team travelled to Kolkata where an all-round performance by Ravindra Jadeja helped them to an easy win over the defending champions.•BCCI

<b>Rise of Raina:</b> Suresh Raina, IPL's leading run-scorer, had a quiet start to the tournament, but he marked a return to form with his first IPL century that came off the last ball of the innings against Kings XI Punjab. Super Kings won the match with ease - their seventh consecutive win.

Rise of Raina: Suresh Raina, IPL's leading run-scorer, had a quiet start to the tournament, but he marked a return to form with his first IPL century that came off the last ball of the innings against Kings XI Punjab. Super Kings won the match with ease - their seventh consecutive win.•BCCI

<b>Easy route:</b> Super Kings lost three out of their last five matches in the league stage, but managed to finish on top of the table. In the first qualifier, they beat Mumbai Indians first time in the season. It was again Hussey, who scored yet another half-century, as Super Kings took the direct route to the final - their fifth.

Easy route: Super Kings lost three out of their last five matches in the league stage, but managed to finish on top of the table. In the first qualifier, they beat Mumbai Indians first time in the season. It was again Hussey, who scored yet another half-century, as Super Kings took the direct route to the final - their fifth.•BCCI

<b>Wake-up alarm:</b> The team's successful run was brought to a halt in a humiliating loss against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Super Kings were set to chase a modest target of 140, but imploded to a paltry 79, losing the match by 60 runs.

Wake-up alarm: The team's successful run was brought to a halt in a humiliating loss against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Super Kings were set to chase a modest target of 140, but imploded to a paltry 79, losing the match by 60 runs.•BCCI