_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0.jpg "IPL 7 KKR vs CSK: KKR crush CSK at home")
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 8 wickets in the 47th match of IPL 7. KKR's clinical win means the IPL points table is split between the top four and the bottom four. Kings XI, CSK, RR and KKR are four points above the chasing pack.
See: IPL 7 Points Table
Earlier, chasing 154, Gambhir and Uthappa were the openers for KKR. It was a brilliant start for KKR with 12 runs in the first over. Uthappa put up a spectacular performance with an unbeaten 36 off 19 balls (7x4) while Gambhir was on 8, at the crease.
Ishwar Pandey dismissed Gautam Gambhir for 21, giving CSK the much needed wicket. KKR were 69/1 at the end of 8 overs. It was a big one for CSK as Uthappa got out at 67. Faf du Plessis took the catch after a brilliant delivery by Ravindra Jadeja.
Kolkata Knight Riders were 119/2 in 15 overs with Manish Pandey (11) and Shakib Al Hasan (16) at the crease. While CSK thought the match would head towards a close finsih, Shakib Al Hasan crashed all such hopes as he targeted Ben Hilfenhaus in the 17th over, scoring 14 runs off last three balls. The hometeam eventually sealed the match in the 18th over and alongwith it the, granbbed two points to retain their number 4 position in the points table.
CSK innings:
Playing in his first game in IPL 7, Pat Cummins made a fantastic start for himself and KKR as he dismissed Dwayen Smith in his first over. But Brendon McCullum made sure that KKR did not have an upperhand as he smashed 16 runs off Cummins' next over.
It was a good start from the KKR side as the bowlers kept a close watch while McCullum and Raina were in search of runs. CSK were 41/1 at the end of 7 overs.
Though CSK lost Smith early, Raina and McCullum gave Chennai a solid base. With a partnership of 54 runs, Raina made 25 off 32 balls, McCullum gathered 28 off 22 balls.
It was curtains for McCullum as Sunil Narine gave KKR the much needed breakthrough. McCullum was gone for 28 after a terrific catch by Suryakumar Yadav.
As Raina continued his feat, Faf du Plessis fell for 23. He was run out. Just when it looked like skipper Dhoni and Raina could show some magic, Raina was dismissed. It wasn't at all timed well, as he was caught out by Doeschate. CSK were 134/4 in 18 overs.
With 12 runs in the last over, CSK made 154 losing four wickets in their inning against KKR.
The story so far:
Kolkata Knight Riders included Pat Cummins in the playing XI in place of Morne Morkel. Chennai Super Kings made two changes to their side - Samuel Badree and David Hussey made way for Ben Hilfenhaus and Faf du Plessis.
After an initial stumble, the Gautam Gambhir-led KKR are on a roll winning 4 games in a row. And they will like to make it five in a row before their homecrowd at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Their batsmen and bowlers have done well and keep alive KKR’s hopes to seal the playoff berth.
Chennai Super Kings are placed second in the points table. But a loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their previous game broke their winning streak. However, the Dhoni-led IPL side surely know how to bounce back from such situations.
Teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir (c), Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Pat Cummins, Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine.
Chennai Super Kings: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Mithun Manhas, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishwar Pandey, Mohit Sharma, Ben Hilfenhaus.
