Chennai Super Kings keep title hopes alive

Chennai Super Kings remain on course for a third successive Indian Premier League (IPL) title after beating Mumbai Indians by 38 runs in last night's play-off eliminator match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a key role as Chennai recovered from an awful start to post 187 for five after Mumbai skipper Harbhajan Singh had put them in to bat. They will now go on to face Delhi Daredevils in tomorrow's final qualifier, with the winner of that match meeting Kolkata Knight Riders in Sunday's final. Dhawal Kulkarni struck twice in his first over and after three overs Chennai were four for two, leaving a score close to 200 looking highly improbable.But Mike Hussey (49 runs off 39 balls) and Subramaniam Badrinath (47 off 39) got the Super Kings back on track with a 94-run partnership and set the platform for a late blast from Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo. Dhoni (51 off 20) and Bravo (33 off 14) added an unbroken 73 from just 29 balls. Dhoni started his innings by whipping Kieron Pollard to the deep mid-wicket fence. He also hit a mammoth six off Franklin, sending the ball out of the stadium. The Indians' reply got off to a flying start thanks to Dwayne Smith (38 off 22), but regular wickets meant they could only reach 149 for nine. Meanwhile, a senior member of the IPL Governing Council (GC) has said the GC will review the competition once it is over so that this year's off-field controversies do not happen again in the future. M.P. Pandove, a GC member and former BCCI treasurer, said the meeting will discuss corrective measures after the IPL hit the headlines due to controversies ranging from a TV sting claiming to expose spot-fixing, to an alleged molestation charge against a player and two players being detained at a rave party. Pandove said he favoured a stringent Code of Conduct for the players and regulatory control over them. Brief scores Chennai Super Kings 187 for 5 in 20 overs (MS Dhoni 51, M Hussey 49, S Badrinath 47; D Kulkarni 3-46). Mumbai Indians 149 for 9 in 20 overs (D Smith 38; D Bravo 2-10). Chennai beat Mumbai by 38 runs.