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Super Kings soar to the top spot

Chennai defend small total as Kolkata Knight Riders fall short by two runs
Last Updated 28 April 2015, 19:09 IST

Two-time champions Chennai Super Kings pulled off a sensational two-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, defending a small total with some brilliant bowling and fielding efforts in the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday.

Put into bat, Chennai found the going tough against the defending champions who produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the hosts to 134 for six in their stipulated 20 overs.

However, the Super Kings returned with a clinical bowling and fielding performance, led by Dwayne Bravo (3/22) and R Ashwin (2/5), to restrict Kolkata to 132 for nine and continue their domination at home.

Needing 17 runs off six balls, Ryan ten doeschate (38) blasted a six and a couple of fours but it proved too little, too late as Kolkata fell short by two runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

With this victory, Chennai reached the top of the table with six wins from seven matches, pushing Rajasthan Royals, who have five wins in eight matches, to the second spot.
Chasing 134, Kolkata had a disastrous start as their skipper Gambhir (0) was dismissed by Ishwar Pandey off the second ball of the innings.

The other opener Robin Uthappa (39) then shared a 51-run partnership with Manish Pandey (15). The duo blasted eight boundaries and one six in their 29-ball second-wicket partnership.

However, CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni soon introduced Ashwin into the attack and the spinner got him a wicket with the very first delivery, dismissing Uthappa, with Brendon McCullum pulling off a smart catch at short midwicket.

In his second over, Ashwin took another wicket off his first ball, sending Pandey back into the hut with Bravo taking the catch at the deep midwicket area as KKR slipped to 61-3 in 7.1 overs.

Yusuf Pathan (13) and Suryakumar Yadav (16) tried to steady the innings but with Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja bowling in tandem, boundaries dried up.
With the required rate mounting, Yadav tried to pull a quick Mohit Sharma ball but Bravo pulled off a stunning low catch with one hand running in from long-on as Kolkata slumped to 76 for 4 in 12.2 overs.

Needing 47 off 31 balls, Pathan went for a big shot off Bravo, only to see his inside edge disturb the stumps as KKR looked down the barrel at 91 for five in 15.2 overs.
Andre Russell (4) was the next to depart when his attempt to take a second run ended with a run out, while Pat Cummins holed out to Jadeja off Bravo at deep midwicket. Piyush Chawla too departed without disturbing the scoreboard after he was deceived by a slower delivery from Bravo.

When CSK batted, Andre Russell (2/26) and Piyush Chawla (2/26) were the pick of the bowlers while Brad Hogg (1/18) snapped one after Kolkata skipper Gambhir won the toss and elected to field. Dwayne Smith (25) and Brendon McCullum (19) gave Chennai a blistering start as they put KKR attack to sword and picked up fours and sixes at will to amass 38 in four overs.

Gambhir then introduced Chawla into the attack and the leg-spinner dismissed McCullum after trapping him in front of the wicket. The New Zealand skipper blasted three fours and one six in his 14-ball innings. New batsman Suresh Raina, however, seemed unfazed as he sent Chawla over the fence with a powerful slog sweep in the square leg region in the last ball of the over.

 Spinner Brad Hogg and pacer Andre Russell then checked the run flow with some good bowling and CSK never really prospered.

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(Published 28 April 2015, 19:09 IST)

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