BANGALORE: Perth Scorchers’ Mitchell Marsh not just stopped Lahore Lions from making it to the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 with a three-wicket win in their last group match here on Tuesday but also paved the way for Chennai Super Kings’ entry into the last-four stage.

The 22-year-old stand-in captain struck 63 not out off 38 deliveries, besides putting up a crucial unbroken 68 runs with Brad Hogg (28 not out) as Scorchers recovered from 62-7 to chase down 125 and end Lions’ chances of making the last four at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Earlier, the Scorchers had restricted the Pakistani side for a mere 124 for six in their allotted 20 overs and then reached 130 for seven in 19 overs.

Had the Lahore Lions pulled off a victory by a margin of 46 runs against the Scorchers, they would have progressed to the semi-finals by displacing CSK from second place in the Group ‘A’ standings.

Hogg hit Adnan Rasool for a six in the 14th over to knock Lahore out of the tournament, while sending CSK into the last-four stage.

Earlier, Saad Nasim steadied the Lions’ innings with an unbeaten 69 off 55 balls to 124 after a poor start having been put into bat by Marsh.

Kolkata Knight Riders were already through to the semi-finals after topping Group ‘A’, having registered four victory in as many matches.

In the semi-finals on Thur­sday, KKR meet the Hobart Hurricanes in Hyderabad, followed by CSK against the Kings X1 Punjab at the same venue.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2014