IPL’22: Kolkata start off campaign with big win against CSK

Mumbai, March 26: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered 6 wickets win chasing a paltry 132 runs target as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s fifty and Dwayne Bravo’s 3 for 20 went in vain for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in this year’s IPL Opener at Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday. The bowlers set this up for KKR. CSK were at least 30 runs short of a par total when they managed only 131 for 5. And this was possible because Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the old fox, led the counter-attack by stealing 47 runs off the last three overs with the company of skipper Ravindra Jadeja. Umesh Yadav was brilliant with the new ball as KKR seized key moments to rattle CSK 61 for 5. It took a belligerent knock from Dhoni at the end to get a respectable total. Ajinkya Rahane (44) and Venkatesh Iyer (16) ensured a wicketless powerplay. Dwayne Bravo tried all his tricks of the trade by taking three wickets, but it was not enough for CSK. Rahane held fort at one end and the rest chipped in to get the first points on the board. CSK will be slightly happy that they took this game deep to ensure their net run rate is affected big time. KKR openers, Rahane and Iyer made a strong start at the pace of 7 runs per over as they helped the team reach 43 for no loss in 6 overs. Just as they settled for a bigger partnership, Bravo eked out an edge off Iyer’s (16) bat that Dhoni pouched behind the wickets. Bravo got Nitish Rana (21) just at the halfway mark as he pulled straight to Ambati Rayudu at short fine leg.

Rahane fell for 44 after he whipped Mitchell Santner’s first ball close to Ravindra Jadeja at mid-wicket, but KKR were well on course for a victory. Bravo got his third wicket after Sam Billings (25) was caught by Tushar Deshpande in the deep with KKR needing 9 runs to win. The West Indian finished with 3 for 23 in 4 overs. Earlier, Jadeja and Dhoni rescued CSK by scripting a halftime 70-run stand for the sixth wicket. Batting together, they ensured not to lose further wickets and towards the end smacked 47 runs off the last three overs. Shreyas and Co. were too good for the first 17 overs of the match. He won the toss and immediately got the ball to talk by removing both the openers – Rituraj Gaikwad (0) and Devon Conway (3). Sheldon Jackson stumped Robin Uthappa (28) and then a mix-up in the middle saw Ambati Rayudu (15) lose his wicket before Shivam Dube (3) gifted his wicket away. At 61 for 5, it looked bad, but at 84 for 5 in 17 overs it looked worse as Dhoni struggled against Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine’s tricks. Jadeja (26*) surprisingly was not getting the timing right as he had exhibited his batsmanship in an unbeaten 175 runs knock against Sri Lanka in Mohali Test. It all changed when the former captain took the responsibility on his shoulders and immediately picked Russel for three boundaries. Shivam Mavi bowled an outstanding first half of the 19th over, but CSK roared back to gain the upper hand and get 131. Sending CSK into bat first, Umesh removed Gaikwad for a duck, but Uthappa got CSK going with a fine boundary to the leg side off Mavi. He then smacked the first six, lifting the ball over mid-wicket off Umesh in the third over. Conway, who was struggling to get going, departed cheaply after Umesh bagged his second wicket as he holed out to Shreyas. In a big blow to CSK, Varun struck in his second over by picking up Uthappa just when the stand between him and Rayudu was building. It was the last thing CSK wanted. A silly run-out cost them the wicket of Rayudu who set off for a single. Iyer was composed as he chucked the ball to the bowler who did the rest. CSK then were in deep straits at 52 for 4. Another batsman fell cheaply and CSK lost half their side. Dube found the man at midwicket and CSK were 61 for 5. (UNI)