Chennai, Apr 9:
After a dominating show by the bowlers, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front with a timely half century, his first in this edition, as home favourites and 5-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) scored a resounding seven-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday night.
After restricting KKR to 137 for nine, thanks to three wicket a hauls by spinner Ravindra Jadehja and pacer Tushar Deshpande and left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman picking up two wickets in the last over, the home team crossed the finishing line with consummate ease with 14 balls to spare.
CSK finished at 141 for three n 17.4 overs for its third win at home.
Ruturaj remained unbeaten on 67 of 58 balls (9×4) leading from the front and staying till the end.
CSK got off to a brisk start, lost opener Rachin Ravindra (15, 8 balls, 3×4), before Ruturaj, who has been timing well and got his much wanton form with sweetly-timed boundaries of pacer Mitchell Starc and spinners, and Daryl Mitchell, promoted up as Ajinkya Rahane could not come to bat after missing the field for some time, resurrected the chase.
And finally the home team cantered home with impact player left hander Shivam Dube providing the much needed flourish in the end. spite losing two away matches, maintained its home record intact winning its third successive contest.
Ruturaj, who added 70 runs with Mitchell (25, 19 balls, 1×4, 1×6) for the second wicket, remained unbeaten till the end to help CSK romp home rather easily, with the high humidity as the city has been reeling under intense heat wave, and the dew factor coming in handy for the home team.
After the early loss of Ravindra, Mitchell and Gaikwad applied themselves to the task, picking up ones and twos, besides the odd boundaries to keep the team in the hunt.
After Mitchell stepped out and was bowled by Narine, Dube and Ruturaj guided home without much ado.
Once again Dube virtually performed the role of a finisher hitting a pair of sixers that reduced the margin as the home team’s celebrations began.
The exit of Dube (28, 18 balls, 3×6, 1×4) with three runs needed did not alter the outcome as iconic MS Dhoni, who came up the order much to the delight of the packed yellow brigade, was expected to hit the winning runs.
But the crowd was more happy as they saw their favourite star on batting as Gaikwad punched a four to the cover fence to complete the formalities.
