Smith unlikely for next match

Graeme Smith, the Rajasthan Royals' opener, is likely to miss their next match against the Mumbai Indians on Monday after pulling a hamstring during the Chennai game, said captain Shane Warne.

"We have good depth and we can make it up for Smith's loss and send [Kamran] Akmal up the order," Warne said. "We will continue with our experimentation and try out a few new things."

Smith scored 91 and added 127 with Swapnil Asnodkar as Rajasthan totalled 214 and beat the Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs. Warne was happy that despite resting four key players, Rajasthan had managed to win. "Youngsters showed good coordination. Smith, Asnodkar set the tone for our innings and Akmal, who was like dynamite, made good use of a perfect batting condition. Sohail Tanvir was exceptionally good as he bowled well through out and took two vital wickets in the end overs."

But till a third of Chennai's innings, it had looked like they would chase Rajasthan's formidable total. "At one stage we thought Chennai will win with an over to spare. Parthiv Patel's wicket turned the tide in our favour." Warne said, adding that Rajasthan's strategy against Mahendra Singh Dhoni was to keep a fielder at backward point and bowl short and wide. "Just before he got out, we brought the mid-off up and he lofted a slower delivery to be out."

Rajasthan have qualified for the semi-finals along with Kings XI Punjab but Chennai will now have to beat the Deccan Chargers on Tuesday to make it to the final four. Dhoni said they had to keep the Delhi-Mumbai result in mind as well. "The match would have gone our way but we missed it in the last one over when we had our chance," Dhoni said of today's defeat.

"We batted and fielded well but our bowling was not up to the mark excepting in the last four or five overs. Generally, I am happy with my bowling attack. At least we have a settled attack now and they have to improve a lot. I am seeing signs of their improvement."