IPL champions Chennai Super Kings overcame an early scare to beat New Zealand's Central Stags by 57 runs in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament on Saturday. Chennai seam bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji claimed three wickets and spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up two each as the Stags were bundled out for 94 in 18.1 overs while in pursuit of Chennai's 151-4.
Batting first, Chennai had needed a 73-run partnership between Subramaniam Badrinath and Srikkanth Anirudha to rescue their innings in the Group B match after it had been reduced to 5-2 in the second over.
Badrinath hit 52 not out, Anirudha made 42 and allrounder Albie Morkel thumped 26 off 15 balls as Chennai started its campaign with a win.
Brief score: Chennai Super Kings 151 for 4 (Badrinath 52*, Anirudha 42, Bracewell 2-28) beat Central Districts 94 (Bracewell 30, Balaji 3-20, Bollinger 2-10, Muralitharan 2-15) by 57 runs.