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Lions manage 139/5 against DD in the 1st CLT20 semi-final

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Press Trust of India Durban

On a bouncy Kingsmead pitch, the Daredevils pace quartet did a commendable job as the foundation of Lions' total was based on 59-runs for the fourth wicket added by Bodi and Neil Mckenzie. Bodi scored 50 off 49 balls hit four boundaries and a six while McKenzie who got dropped off consecutive deliveries from Morne Morkel managed an unbeaten 46 off 27 balls with four boundaries and a six.

The breezy day at Kingsmead did make life dificult for the Daredevils fielders as they dropped as many as three catches. The offenders were Unmukt Chand, Umesh Yadav and Kevin Pietersen.

 

Mahela Jayawardene surprised one and all by opting to sit out which gave David Warner a chance to play the semi-finals.

"We wanted a left-hander who add a punch against their left-arm bowlers," Jayawardene stated when asked by the official broadcasters.

Birthday boy Umesh Yadav provided the initial breakthrough as he induced a thickish edge off Alviro Peterson's bat which was taken by Naman Ojha. It was fuller delivery which Peterson had made room to hit over extra cover. Peterson made 24 off 19 balls with three fours and a six.

Quinton de Kock got a reprieve off Yadav's bowling when his mistimed flat pull-shot went straight Unmukt Chand at deep square leg but the India colts skipper lost the sight of the ball to concede a boundary. De Kock hit a lofted shot off Umesh to get a boundary but another pull-shot ballooned up in the air and Unmukt this time took a well-judged catch.

The bounce in the pitch also helped left-arm spinner Pawan Negi who got one to rear up awkwardly on Dwayne Pretorius as he lobbed an easy catch for stand-in skipper Ross Taylor.

However Bodi and McKenzie stepped up the ante in the back 10 as they got 77 runs. Interestingly, Bodi has a contract with Delhi Daredevils in Indian Premier League.

  

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First Published: Oct 25 2012 | 10:45 PM IST

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