Suresh Raina became the only player in the Indian Premier League to score 400 runs in every season since its inception after a brilliant knock of 54 in 33 balls ensured Chennai Super Kings edged closer to a third title.
Raina's 23rd half century in the IPL was the key as Chennai beat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in the Eliminator at Mumbai Brabourne Stadium.
They will now face Kings XI Punjab in the second qualifier at the Wankhede Stadium tomorrow.
A disappointed Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma said: “We batted well till the 15th-16th over. A total of 170 was a good enough target.
“We would have liked some more but we really played well and I have a lot of pride in this side and how far we’ve come in this tournament. This just wasn’t our day,
“We showed a lot of character after losing the first five games. Coming back to India and performing like that was incredible.
"I didn’t have to do too much, we were in that momentum after our last win and we wanted to carry it though to this game. But unfortunately CSK were the better team today and that’s what it is. We’ve got some work to do and we’ll come back bigger and stronger next year”
Raina’s 54 included four boundaries and two sixes and he added 89 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership with David Hussey, who remained not out on 40 off 29 balls.
Earlier, Lendl Simmons smashed a 44-ball 67 to help Mumbai post a challenging 173 for eight from their 20 overs.
