Jaipur: Ajinkya Rahane once again played a fantastic knock of 70 runs off 56 balls and later Pravin Tambe bowled brilliantly (3 for 10 in four overs) to help Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs and reach the semi-final of Champions League T20, 2013 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, here on Friday.

Batting first, Rajasthan Royals lost skipper Rahul Dravid early. Kevon Cooper, who was promoted at No. 3, though unleashed against Mohit Sharma in the fourth over, Sharma got the better of Cooper as he was caught by S Badrinath off Sharma on 14.

Sanju Samson joined Rahane and the duo started rebuilding the RR's innings, adding 33 runs for the third wicket before Samson was caught by R Ashwin off Holder for 11. Thereafter, Rahane found an able company in Shane Watson and the duo added 59 runs for the fourth wicket. Watson, however, was caught by Holder off Chris Morris after playing an useful knock off 32 runs in 23 balls.

Veteran Brad Hodge and Rahane then added 28 runs for the fifth wicket but the partneship was cut short by Holder who bowled Hodge for 11. Rahane too was finally undone by Dwayne Bravo for 70 and later Yagnik and Stuart Binny too were back to the dug out off successive balls. Rajasthan ended their innings on 159 runs.

Chasing 160 to win, Chennai were off to a bad start as they lost their openers Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay inside the first six overs. Hussey ran himself out for 9, while Vijay too followed him back in the dug out after he too was run out as a result of a miscommunication with Suresh Raina. He scored scoring 14 off 16 balls.

Thareafter, Rajasthan bowlers dominated the proceedings as Chennai at lost qickets in quick succession and were 61 for 5 at one stage. Suresh Raina effort went in vain as he kept losing partners at other end. Raina scored a 23-ball 29 before getting dismissed by Pravin Tambe. Tambe was the pick of the bowlers for Rajasthan as he returned with figures of 3 for 10 in four overs.

However, R Ashwin did revive CSK's innings with a brilliant 28-ball 46 to take CSK close with some lusty blows. Chris Morris (unbeaten 26 off 17 balls), along with Ashwin did give some jittery moments to the Royals as they added 73 runs for the eighth wicket but Chennai could manage only 145 for 8 in their 20 overs.