A stunning 135 off just 69 balls from David Warner inspired New South Wales Blues to a 46-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in Chepauk, Chennai.
over Chennai Super Kings in Chepauk, Chennai.
The Australian opener bludgeoned eight sixes and 11 fours in a century of utter destruction which propelled Simon Katich's side to 201 for two from their 20 overs.
Scores of 37 and 28 from Mike Hussey and Suresh Raina respectively saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men reach 155 before they were bowled out with seven deliveries to spare.
Steve O'Keefe took three wickets with Stuart Clark and Mitchell Starc chipping in with two apiece as Chennai's run-chase was constantly disrupted.
But it was Warner who inevitably clinched the man-of-the-match award for his explosive and exhilarating innings and took all the plaudits in the day/night encounter.
Warner produced a selection of shots including some impressive switch hitting to make his total in scintillating fashion, enjoying the highest score in the history of the tournament on a notoriously slow pitch.
In the process, the Australian opener took New South Wales to the top of Group A, and through to the semi-finals, while the defeat leaves Chennai languishing in bottom place with a meagre two points on the board.
"This is my best performance in this format," Warner said afterwards. "Tonight was my night."
In the other match of the day, Kevon Cooper was again Trinidad & Tobago's unlikely hero with the bat as they kept their Champions League hopes alive with a two-wicket win over the Cape Cobras.
Half-centuries from Owais Shah and Dane Vilas were the only contributions of note to the Cobras' 137 for four but they looked on course for victory when they reduced the Caribbean side to 105 for seven in the 18th over.
But Cooper, who hit an agricultural 28 from 10 balls in a low-scoring 12-run win over the Chennai Super Kings last time out, smashed 25 from 11 today to see them over the line.
Cobras opener Richard Levi, who has been added to South Africa's Twenty20 squad to face Australia later this month, and Herschelle Gibbs fell cheaply but Shah and wicketkeeper Vilas combined for 87 in 11.1 overs.
Vilas reached a 40-ball half-century with seven fours but top-edged spinner Sunil Narine to cover four balls, and four runs, later. Shah pressed on to 63 not out, from 50 balls and featuring six fours and a six, with no other batsman reaching double figures.
Dale Steyn strangled T&T in the early stages of their innings, his first three overs yielding figures of one for three, and Justin Kemp picked up three for 22 including top scorer Darren Bravo (29).
Denesh Ramdin's brisk 24 kept them in the game but it was Cooper who delivered the crucial blows, hitting sixes off Robin Peterson and Steyn - whose final over went for 15 - and a four off Charl Langeveldt in the last over for a win which means Trinidad can still qualify for the semi-finals.
over Chennai Super Kings in Chepauk, Chennai.
Scores of 37 and 28 from Mike Hussey and Suresh Raina respectively saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men reach 155 before they were bowled out with seven deliveries to spare.
Steve O'Keefe took three wickets with Stuart Clark and Mitchell Starc chipping in with two apiece as Chennai's run-chase was constantly disrupted.
But it was Warner who inevitably clinched the man-of-the-match award for his explosive and exhilarating innings and took all the plaudits in the day/night encounter.
Warner produced a selection of shots including some impressive switch hitting to make his total in scintillating fashion, enjoying the highest score in the history of the tournament on a notoriously slow pitch.
In the process, the Australian opener took New South Wales to the top of Group A, and through to the semi-finals, while the defeat leaves Chennai languishing in bottom place with a meagre two points on the board.
"This is my best performance in this format," Warner said afterwards. "Tonight was my night."
In the other match of the day, Kevon Cooper was again Trinidad & Tobago's unlikely hero with the bat as they kept their Champions League hopes alive with a two-wicket win over the Cape Cobras.
Half-centuries from Owais Shah and Dane Vilas were the only contributions of note to the Cobras' 137 for four but they looked on course for victory when they reduced the Caribbean side to 105 for seven in the 18th over.
But Cooper, who hit an agricultural 28 from 10 balls in a low-scoring 12-run win over the Chennai Super Kings last time out, smashed 25 from 11 today to see them over the line.
Cobras opener Richard Levi, who has been added to South Africa's Twenty20 squad to face Australia later this month, and Herschelle Gibbs fell cheaply but Shah and wicketkeeper Vilas combined for 87 in 11.1 overs.
Vilas reached a 40-ball half-century with seven fours but top-edged spinner Sunil Narine to cover four balls, and four runs, later. Shah pressed on to 63 not out, from 50 balls and featuring six fours and a six, with no other batsman reaching double figures.
Dale Steyn strangled T&T in the early stages of their innings, his first three overs yielding figures of one for three, and Justin Kemp picked up three for 22 including top scorer Darren Bravo (29).
Denesh Ramdin's brisk 24 kept them in the game but it was Cooper who delivered the crucial blows, hitting sixes off Robin Peterson and Steyn - whose final over went for 15 - and a four off Charl Langeveldt in the last over for a win which means Trinidad can still qualify for the semi-finals.
