We believed that we could do it: Dhoni

Despite being precariously placed at one stage of their Indian Premier League play-off match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday, Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he had the belief that his team could win the game.

"It was a difficult target, but we have been in similar situations, and we have the belief that we can win these games. We kept believing that we could do it, but you can say I was not 100% confident," Dhoni said after his side's dramatic six-wicket win in the last over.

When asked what sets the the defending champions apart, he said, "We know as a team we have the firepower to chase anything. This was a good scenario where the set batsmen kept on going, and the others chipped around him. When you believe in the talent that you have, you can more often pass off," Dhoni said after his side made it to the final of the tournament.

Rival skipper Daniel Vettori believed that Suresh Raina's blistering knock made the difference.

"You do get these guys. You say this is a great game of cricket. That innings from Suresh took it away. You can never think the game is in the bag with this size of boundaries.

"But we expect to bowl a little bit better than we did. We can focus on the loss, or look at the good things. Unfortunately we didn't defend it, but a few guys bowled well too," Vettori said.

"With Dhoni, Morkel and Raina (in the opposition line-up), we always knew it won't be easy (to defend)," he added.

Man of the Match Raina said he was eager to do well in this match.

"It was an important game for us, I knew I had to do well. God has been really kind to me. We executed the plans really well," Raina said.

Raina battled cramps for some part of his innings but never gave up hope.

"I was not thinking about the cramps, just play my game, and play the big ones when the ball was in the zone. I was just looking to play till the 20th over."