Vintage Sehwag crushes CSK

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A vintage display of power hitting from Virender Sehwag has guided George Bailey’s Kings XI Punjab side past Chennai Super Kings and into the final of IPL 7.

The former India opener smashed eight sixes and 12 fours on his way to 122 runs off 58 balls, reaching three figures off 50 deliveries much to the delight of a rapturous Mumbai crowd.

Sehwag’s second century in seven IPL seasons helped Kings XI to 6-226 from their 20 overs, setting up a 24-run victory after CSK failed to chase down the massive target.

“It’s been a long time,” Sehwag told iplt20.com after the match.

“I played 14 games and got the starts. I knew that a big innings was around the corner.

“When I walked in to bat today, I told myself, ‘If today is indeed my day, the Chennai Super Kings have to pay!”

While Sehwag made batting look easy, the Australian contingent failed to fire with Glenn Maxwell falling in the deep for 13 off six deliveries and George Bailey bowled second ball for one.

South African David Miller proved a valuable foil for Sehwag in the latter overs, striking 38 off 19 balls to set the Chennai Super Kings 227 to win.

With a formidable total on the board, Mitch Johnson got his side off to the best possible start, Faf du Plessis lobbing a short ball straight to Bailey at mid-wicket off the innings’ second delivery.

But the joy was short-lived, Suresh Raina coming to the crease and blasting the second fastest half-century in IPL history, off just 16 balls, to have Chennai well in the hunt in the early going.

With the India international’s stroke-play growing ever more sublime, it took a flash of brilliance from Bailey to halt the flow of runs, a direct hit at the keepers’ end running Raina out for an incredible 87 off 25 balls.

Wickets continued to tumble for Chennai, with Brendon McCullum (11), Ravindra Jadeja (27) and David Hussey (1) all failing to keep up with the pace set by Sehwag.

Johnson looked to have a sealed victory for Kings XI when he clean bowled perennial finisher MS Dhoni for 15, but replays revealed the Ashes hero had overstepped and the India captain was recalled to the crease.

Despite the let-off, Dhoni and the Super Kings fell short and made it three losses from three matches against Kings XI in IPL7.

Kings XI Punjab will face-off against Qualifier 1 opponents Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL7 final early Monday morning.

Stay tuned to cricket.com.au for live coverage of the final from 12:30am AEST.