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Ranchi: Unbeaten so far, table-toppers Chennai Super Kings will eye a hat-trick of victories to seal the semifinal spot when they square off against winless laggards Brisbane Heat of Australia in their third Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 on Saturday.
The contrast could not have been more in the two teams' fortunes. While Chennai are on top, Brisbane are at the bottom of the points table.
And the sheer depth in the line-up was displayed on Thursday when Suresh Raina smashed a quickfire half-century while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni produced a belligerent unbeaten knock of 63 for CSK to post a stunning 202 on the board against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Such was the brutality that neither speed nor spin provided any challenge to Dhoni as he decorated his 19-ball knock with an astonishing eight sixes.
Dhoni, in the process, also struck the fastest fifty in the history of the Champions League, reaching the landmark in just 16 balls 7and surpassing West Indian Kieron Pollard's record (50 off 18 balls).
Brisbane, on the other hand, are all but eliminated from the competition. Handed defeats in the two matches they have played so far, Brisbane need to win on Saturday to stay alive in the event.
The depleted Australian outfit, which failed miserably with the bat in the games against Trinidad & Tobago and the Titans, will be expecting its batsmen to show more responsibility.
Chasing a modest 123-run target against Titans in their previous game, Brisbane were bundled out for a meagre 119 with opener Joe Burns being the only noteworthy contributor once again. After a 43-ball 45 against T&T, Burns made 37 against the Titans.
Brisbane would hope that captain James Hopes, who has plenty of international experience having also captained IPL side Delhi Daredevils, gives them a solid start along with Burns.
Besides, all-rounder Dan Christian will also have to carry the batting burden. Chris Lynn, the big-hitting middle-order batsman, is another player who can make an impact.
The bowling unit has done well so far but have found little or no support from the team's batsmen.
Teams from:
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (Capt. & wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, S Badrinath, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Jason Holder, Michael Hussey, Imtiaz Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Mohit Sharma, Murali Vijay.
Brisbane Heat: James Hopes (Capt.), Daniel Christian, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Nathan Hauritz, Chris Lynn, Dom Michael, Chris Sabburg, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Mathew Gale, Chris Hartley (wk), Alex Kepm, Alister Mcdermott, Kemar Roach.
Match facts
Saturday September 28, 2013 (day/night)
Start time 20:00 local (1430 GMT)
