Mumbai, May 31: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni attributed the nine-wicket semi-final victory against the Kings XI Punjab to team effort as the Chennai Super Kings made it to the final of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, here tonight.

“I thought we bowled really well at the start and then batted equally well. Our fielding too has improved. Overall, it was a great team effort,” said Dhoni after the game.

Dhoni played tributes to Makhaya Ntini, who was later adjudged Man of the Match, for providing the early breakthroughs. “We bowled in the right areas and our fielders too supported them tonight. Then Raina and Parthiv Patel came up with a fine partnership,” said Dhoni.

Looking ahead to Sunday night’s final against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni said: “We will go back tonight, sleep well and get up in the morning fresh for the final. It’s tough, but that’s the way the schedule is.”

He admitted that he felt the pressure of a big match and also the high expectations on him, but preferred not to show it.

“Of course, I feel the pressure, but I don’t show it because when I walk up to the bowler, he should not see a tense captain. So, I try to hide it, but the pressure is always there,” Dhoni said.

Makhaya Ntini, on his part, felt happy at his performance, though he sought to downplay his contribution. “Everything went well for me tonight and I had some good support from the fielders too,” said the South African fast bowlers.

Suresh Raina and Parthiv Patel, who were involved in the century partnership, said that they just played their “natural game” and did not try anything different.

Raina said: “Before we started our innings, we decided to play our natural game and treat tonight’s match like just another outing. Basically, we wanted to just go out there an enjoy ourselves.”