Chennai, May 6: Adam Gilchrist had a promise to keep. "We will do justice to the inspiring name you provided the team," Gilchrist had said to S. Nandakumar who had won the predict the name contest and he did just that. Gilchrist helped keep the Super Kings down to 144/7 with some inspired and imaginative leadership and then launched the chase with a stroke-filled 54 from 36 balls. Chargers reached the target in 18 overs with seven wickets in hand. Rohit Sharma, who made a polished 23, also claimed the league’s top-scorer’s orange cap during the course of his innings.

The chase was anything but smooth at the start as Makhaya Ntini and Manpreet Gony did not allow a free run for the Chargers’ openers. Gilchrist bided his time while Gibbs who charged Nitini with a six over long-on fell shortly later checking his drive off Gony who held a smart catch on his follow through.

The first five overs produced only 30 runs. Gilchrist took full toll of the last powerplay over. A six over mid-wicket was followed by a punch to long on for four. The next delivery was deposited over the Chargers dug out that sent his own mates scurrying for cover.

Gilchrist was smartly snapped up at point by Badrinath off Morkel and his dismissal gave the hosts a ray of hope. Sharma ensured no such hiccups with a solid 48-run stand that literally sealed the match. Sharma was dismissed when he holed out towards the end but Shahid Afridi, who had had a quiet tournament collected 20 runs in four balls with two massive sixes in the 18th over that ushered in the emphatic win for the Chargers.

In a match they had to win to keep their semifinals hope alive, the Chargers’ were charged up from the start. P. Vijaykumar started from the pavilion end with a very good first over where he accounted for Parthiv Patel with a well directed bouncer. The spring in the visitors’ step said how badly they wanted a win. Stephen Fleming was as comfortable as a giraffe on a dance floor against the sustained accuracy of R.P. Singh and Vijaykumar. S. Anirudha playing his first match in the IPL made the cardinal sin of fetching the ball from outside off for the pull.

Chargers kept the pressure maintaining a fine length. Afridi and Scott Styris scalped a wicket each that pushed the Super Kings deeply. Two amazing catches saw S. Badrinath and Fleming depart in quick succession. Fleming threw the kitchen sink at a wide half volley from Styris and Sharma timed his jump to perfection to make a tough catch look very simple. Badrinath chose to tap a short ball from Afridi to gully where Gibbs took a tumbling catch. The shot selection left much to be desired.

Suresh Raina easily the best batsman on view for the Super Kings hardly looked in any trouble in spite of wickets falling regularly at the other end. Just when it looked like Raina would steer his side to a competitive score along with Dhoni, he chose the most innocuous ball to find the fielder at covers. Sanjay Bangar who exercised good control over length was rewarded.

Dhoni was kept quiet by Pragyan Ojha who was equal to the task when Dhoni stepped out to him. The left-arm spinner held his length well that denied Dhoni an opportunity to swing through the arc. Chennai could manage only 86 in 15 overs.