Mumbai, April 2, 2008: The 1st Semi-Final of the Edelweiss 20s Challenge featured the hosts Hyderabad Heroes taking on the defending champions Chennai Superstars at the magnificent ICL facility, Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad.It was expected to be a close encounter, especially as it involved two of the best Indian sides in the tournament, hosts Hyderabad Heroes, who had the impressive record of not having lost single match at home and Chennai Superstars, the defending champions looking to win their third consecutive title on the ICL platform. At the toss Jeff Dujon predicted a track with consistent bounce expected to assist the spinners as the match progressed.Chris Harris won the toss and elected to bat. The Heroes came out to bat with their two inform stalwarts Maher & Razzaq. The Superstars new ball bowlers after a few nervous wides, soon settled into a disciplined line & were rewarded in the 4th over, when Vignesh castled the mainstay of the Heroes batting line Maher, for only 2, reducing the Heroes to 16/1 in the 4th over.The run out of the dangerous Razzaq on 14 had the Heroes in a bit of a bother at 23/2. At the end of the 5th over the Heroes were delicately placed at 24/2.
At the half way mark of their innings the Heroes were held back to a modest 57/2 by some great bowling from the Superstars. Two big sixes from the bat of Rayudu, off Arnold in the 11th over helped the Heroes break the shackles to a little extent. However the Superstars spin spearhead, Syed got into the act right away getting Rayudu’s wicket for 25 & ending the dangerous partnership developing between Rayudu & Boje. At the end of the 15th over the Heroes were placed at 107/4 with Boje holding the key from the Heroes’ perspective. Boje however was done in by a slower one from (the Bald Assassin) Thiru kumaran, for a well made 47 in the 17th over.
Top class efforts in the field from the defending champions prevented any major onslaught from the Heroes in the last 5 overs & were finally restricted to 147/6 in their allotted 20overs.