IPL 2012
Super Kings' road to the final
Super Kings alternated between victory and defeat for their first six games this season. But they still managed to display their ability to win from hopeless positions, Albie Morkel hammering Virat Kohli for 28 runs in an over as Super Kings chased 206 off the last ball against Royal Challengers•AFP
Yet another last-ball finish. This time Super Kings were on the receiving end. Dwayne Smith smashed Ben Hilfenhaus for three boundaries off the last three balls to hand Super Kings their sixth defeat in 11 completed games•Associated Press
Super Kings were now in familiar territory. They came back from 1 for 2 against Mumbai Indians in the eliminator to post a matchwinning 187, with MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo adding 73 in the last five overs•AFP
The next game, against Royals, brought another last-ball finish as Super Kings almost failed to make the eight needed off the final over after Faf du Plessis had set them up with a solid 73•AFP
Super Kings finally found some consistency, defeating Royals, Daredevils and Knight Riders in succession. Of course, there was a last-ball finish, Dwayne Bravo sealing the third win with a six to silence Eden Gardens•AFP
Daredevils messed up their team selection in the second qualifier, leaving out their best bowler Morne Morkel. Like he had in the 2011 final, M Vijay rose to the occasion, his 113 off 58 stunning Daredevils and launching Super Kings to their third straight final, and fourth in five IPL seasons•AFP
Finishing the league stage with a defeat to Kings XI, Super Kings needed Royal Challengers, Royals and Kings XI to lose a game each. All three obliged. Super Kings were into the playoffs, edging Royal Challengers out on net run-rate•AFP