In what was arguably the most one-sided match of the tournament, New South Wales crushed Australian rivals Victoria by 79 runs in the first Champions League semifinal.

A 62-run opening partnership between Australian openers David Warner and Phillip Hughes put NSW on target for a massive score, with Warner being in a particularly aggressive mood.

NSW captain Simon Katich won the toss and had little hesitation in opting to bat first at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on Wednesday.

The opening salvo lasted less than seven overs, but by the time Warner was dismissed for 48, the Bushrangers were already up against it.

Hughes (35), Katich (26) and Daniel Smith (20) consistently built on the platform Warner had laid as NSW scored a massive 169 on a generally slow wicket not conducive to big hitting.

Seamer Clint McCay was the most successive bowler for Victoria, taking 3/27 in his four overs, but Aussie international Peter Siddle was particularly expensive, going for 43 runs.

It soon went from bad to worse for Victoria - their innings getting off to a disastrous start.

Somewhat surprisingly off-spinner Nathan Hauritz opened the bowling with Brett Lee, and dismissed openers Brad Hodge and Rob Quiney without troubling the scorers in his first over.

Victoria never recovered from that initial double blow and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with only Matthew Wade (23 not out) coming in at number seven ever coming to grips with the pace of the wicket.

At least the Bushrangers spared themselves the humiliation of being dismissed within their 20 over allotment, eventually reaching a dismal 90/9, to hand the Blues an impressive 79 run victory and a spot in the Champions League final.


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