Southern Redbacks clear the path for semis

South Australia Redbacks 155 for 2 (Klinger 69*, Harris 57) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 154 (Taylor 46, du Preez 46, Christian 4-23, Tait 2-23) by eight wickets

Skipper Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris produced a 124-run opening partnership to help Southern Redbacks inflict a humiliating eight-wicket defeat on Royal Challengers Bangalore and qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 semi-final.

Southern Redbacks first came out with a disciplined bowling display to restrict the Bangalore side to 154 in 19.5 overs on a slightly slow Kingsmead pitch and then achieved the target with nine balls to spare in the Group B encounter.Klinger scored an unconquered 69 off 57 balls with the help of nine fours and a six, while Harris came out with a brilliant 57 off 38 balls. Southern Redbacks scored 155 for two in 18.3 overs, with Callum Ferguson (21 off 14) giving company to Klinger.Chasing 155 to win, both the openers started on an attacking note. Neither Klinger nor Harris faced any problem in tackling the Bangalore bowling attack and kept sending the ball to the fence in regular intervals.

Klinger cracked a four in the second ball of the innings off medium pacer Praveen Kumar, while Harris cracked three fours in the sixth over off Dillon du Preez to add to the frustration of RCB skipper Anil Kumble. Kumble tried out five bowlers, including himself, but all his efforts went in vain as the bowlers, including pacer Dale Steyn, proved quite ineffective and expensive on the Kingsmead pitch.Southern Redbacks reached 50-run mark in the sixth over and then riding on the rampaging form of the two openers they crossed 100-run mark in the 12th over. To the end of the match, the Australian side lost two quick wickets in the form of Harris, who adorned his innings with seven fours and two sixes, and Graham Manou (0).Harris returned after a misunderstanding with his skipper while Manou feel to Kumble after facing three balls but that could not stop them from registering their third successive win in the tournament. Earlier, Preez and Ross Taylor scored an identical 46 to help Bangalore overcome a mid-innings slump and post 154 after Kumble opted to bat.

Taylor, who cracked eight fours and a huge six during his 28-ball stay, steadied the RCB innings in middle overs while Preez capitalised on his home condition when the team was struggling at 76 for five in 10.5 overs. Preez struck one four and four sixes during his 25-ball innings and with Cameron White (25) produced a crucial 58-run partnership to pull the team out of the pit.