Batters have more leeway due to impact player rule: Narine

CHENNAI: Following the win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Sunil Narine said that this season pitches have been good for batters, who have more leeway due to the ‘Impact Player’ rule.

Crucial fifties from Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana kept KKR’s playoff hope alive as they registered a six-wicket victory at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking about his performance, Narine said: “Probably the pitch helped. I was just trying to use the conditions as best I could.”

On why he has struggled at times this season, he replied: “The pitches are good, and with the extra (impact) player coming in the batters have more leeway, but we need to plan accordingly to counter that. You can plan and you can innovate, but sometimes it is just about keeping it as simple as possible and enjoying your wicket.”

In 13 matches this season, Narine has taken nine wickets at an average of 39.44 and an economy rate of 8.06. His best bowling figures are 3/33.

Dew made a difference, says skipper Dhoni

CSK skipper MS Dhoni said that the presence of dew made the difference in the match and there was an advantage to spinners in the first innings.

“One of those days when you win the toss and bat first and the moment the first ball was bowled in the second innings, you realise it is a 180 wicket. Batting first I do not think we could have got anywhere close to 180. I think the dew made a big difference. If you compare the first innings to the second innings, there was a lot more purchase for the spinners in the first innings and that’s what really got to us,” said Dhoni after the match.

CSK opted to bat first and were restricted to 144/6. Solid knocks came from Shivam Dube (48 n.o. in 34 balls), Devon Conway (30 in 28 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (20).

Narine was the pick of the bowlers with 2/15 and got good support from fellow spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who claimed 2/36.

In the chase of 145, KKR at one stage was 33/3. However, a 99-run stand between skipper Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh brought KKR back into the game. Nitish slammed an unbeaten 57 in 44 balls, consisting of six fours and a six while Rinku scored 54 off 43 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes. KKR chased down the total in 18.3 overs with six wickets in hand.

Deepak Chahar (3/27) was the pick of the bowlers for CSK.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 147/4 (Nitish Rana 57 n.o., Rinku Singh 54; Deepak Chahar 3-27) beat Chennai Super Kings 144/6 (Shivam Dube 48 n.o., Devon Conway 30; Sunil Narine 2-15, Varun Chakravarthy 2-36).