Bravo, Ashwin guide Super Kings to sensational victory

CHENNAI DEFEAT KOLKATA BY TWO RUNS TO KEEP HOME RECORD INTACT

D wayne Bravo and Ravichandran Ashwin guided Chennai Super Kings to a sensational tworun win in a low-scoring game against Kolkata Knight Riders at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in the lone Indian Premier League match yesterday.

Chasing a paltry target of 135, Knight Riders got off to a bad start when they lost skipper Gautam Gambhir for nought, but Robin Uthappa kept the visitors on course with a brisk 39. However, the exit of the former India opener gave Super Kings a glimmer of hope, which the Chennai bowlers capitalised on and got wickets at regular intervals.

The Dutch batsman Ryan Ten Doeschate’s late assault failed to take Kolkata past the target as they fell agonisingly short of the target. Bravo finished with 3 for 22 in his three overs, while Ashwin claimed the wickets of the dangerous Uthappa and Manish Pandey. The victory propelled the Super Kings to the top of the table with 12 points from seven games and also helped them to keep their home record intact.

Earlier, a stupendous bowling performance from defending champions Knight Riders restricted batting powerhouse Chennai to just 134 for six.

It was a collective effort from the Kolkata bowlers as they maintained a nagging line and length and kept Chennai on a tight leash. While the pacers where brilliant upfront, the tweakers too were able to cast a web on the Super Kings batsman. Faf du Plessis top-scored with an unbeaten 29.

For the Knights, Piyush Chawla and Andre Russell got two wickets each, while veteran 44-year-old Chinaman bowler Brad Hogg picked up another.

The Super Kings got off to a bit of a flyer courtesy their hardhitting openers again. Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith stitched together a 42-run partnership in 4.3 overs. The Knights finally got the breakthrough when McCullum (19) failed to pick a Piyush Chawla googly and was adjudged leg before.

The innings stuttered after the jolt, as both Smith (25) and No. 3 Suresh Raina (17) quickly followed the New Zealander.

Courtesy: BCCI Big wicket Piyush Chawla gave Kolkata Knight Riders the much-needed breakthrough after dismissing dangerman Brendon McCullum in the match against Super Kings in Chennai yesterday.

Courtesy: BCCI Friends and foes Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (right) has a jovial chat with his Kolkata counterpart Gautam Gambhir during the toss.