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CHENNAI Super Kings bowlers pulled off an incredible 38- run victory over Deccan Chargers in the second semifinal of the Indian Premier League ( IPL) on Thursday.

This sets up an intriguing clash with the Mumbai Indians in the final to be played on Sunday.

This will be the Super Kings’ second final in the three editions, having been runners- up to the Rajasthan Royals in 2008.

Chennai’s strategy of playing three spinners on a sluggish track, where the odd- ball produced awkward bounce, paid off as the Chargers, chasing 143, were dismissed for 104 in 19.2 overs.

But the real star for the men in yellow was Australian left- arm paceman Doug Bollinger, who finished with four for 13 in four hostile overs and was named the Man of the Match.

Deccan had a quiet start to the reply, with the spin- pace combination of Ravichandran Ashwin and Bollinger keeping the explosive Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs down to just two runs off the first two overs.

Gilchrist tried to hit his way back into form with a sweetly- timed hit over Ashwin’s head for six.

But the skipper perished at the beginning of the sixth over, with the asking rate touching 8.50.

He chipped Bollinger to mid- wicket, only to find Anirudha Srikkanth in the way. Tirumalasetti Suman perished in the same over, caught by Suresh Raina at cover, to leave the defending champions struggling at 23 for two at the end of the powerplay.

Rohit Sharma tried to push the scoring rate but was caught by Muttiah Muralitharan off Albie Morkel. The introduction of left- arm spinner Shadab Jakati worked as Gibbs was bowled for 18. Jakati also got rid of Monish Mishra by getting him stumped, before Ashwin returned to account for Andrew Symonds for 23.

Ryan Harris and Bodapati Sumanth connected with a few big hits, but Bollinger sent both back to the pavilion in his last over.

Earlier, paceman Harris led the way for the defending champions, scalping three for 29, as Deccan restricted Chennai to 142 for seven.

The Super Kings almost had a horror start after choosing to bat when Matthew Hayden tried to smack one over mid- off, giving RP a chest- high chance, which was grassed.

Harris produced another chance, getting Hayden to edge him to point, where Sumanth dropped another straightforward catch. But Hayden’s luck finally ran out when he drove on the up towards cover, only for Symonds to pouch his fellow Queenslander.

RP Singh was handed the ball next over and Murali Vijay smacked him for the first six of the day, eventually taking 13 in the over. But Harris struck off the first ball of the fourth over, getting Vijay with a length delivery that angled in and hit him plumb in front.

Raina almost gifted Deccan another wicket when a leading edge from his blade flew to gully, but this time Suman put down the chance.

Symonds was re- introduced in the fifth over and provided the breakthrough, getting Raina caught behind by Gilchrist.

Chennai were in dire straits at 29 for three in 4.5 overs when Dhoni strode to the crease to join Subramaniam Badrinath.

The two built up a partnership of 52 off 51 balls, as Gilchrist rang in the bowling changes. Only four boundaries were hit between over numbers five and 13. It was an innocuous leg- cutter from Harmeet Singh that got rid of the dangerous Dhoni for 30 off 32 balls.

Badrinath began to cut loose after Dhoni’s departure, clubbing a full- toss from Harmeet over mid- on for four, before stepping down the track and smashing Ojha for a straight six. But Albie Morkel failed to stay put for long.