Change of tactics for Chennai for semis

Chennai Super Kings are likely to go with just one specialist spinner in their Champions League Twenty20 semi-final against Bangalore Royal Challengers in Durban today. The Super Kings, who will meet their fellow Indian Premier League franchise for a spot in the final, will drop one of Muttiah Muralitharan and Shadab Jakati considering the wicket they are going to play on is at Kingsmead - one of the bounciest pitches in the world.

Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan off-spinner, and Jakati, the Indian left-arm spinner, played prominent roles in their must-win game against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. Leaving out Ravichandra Ashwin, the off-spinner/batsman, is another option for Chennai. But MS Dhoni, the Chennai captain, said the spin option was unlikely to work at Durban's seam-friendly wicket. "Our fast bowlers will have to pull their socks up because the spinners won't get so much turn there," he said.

Dhoni said the all-Indian Premier League clash should be a "fantastic" game. "We've done decently, but we've got quite a few weak links ? there's plenty to improve," he said. South Australia will play the Warriors at Centurion in the other semi-final tomorrow. * Agencies