Monday 30 / June / 2025
Chennai: A whirlwind unbeaten 88 by Andre Russel went in vain as Chennai Super Kings kept their cool to upset Kolkata Knight Riders in their second match of the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.
While Sam Billings played a sensational knock of 23-ball 57 to keep the Super Kings in the match, it was Ravinder Jadeja who hit a six of the penultimate ball to help MS Dhoni-led team to surpass 202 for six in 20 overs set by the Knight Riders.
Chasing a huge target, the Chennai outfit were given a solid start by their openers Shane Watson (42 off 19) and Ambati Rayudu (39 off 26).
But the departure of Watson with the scoreboard reading 75 and that of Rayudu ten runs later, slowed down the Super Kings. Soon Suresh Raina too returned to the pavillion after scoring 14 runs.
But a composed Dhoni (25 off 28 balls) and big hitting Sam Billings, who smashed 56 off just 23 deliveries with five sixes and two fours, took the team close to the target.
Their departure, first of Dhoni and then Billings, Chennai were in all sorts of troubles.
With 17 runs runs needed of the final over and Dwayne Brave and Ravinder Jadega at the wicket, KKR captain Dinesh Karthik threw the ball to Vinay Kumar.
The pacer, however, proved erratic starting off with a high no-ball which went off Bravo’s bat for a six. Vinay also bowled a wide.
Pressure also showed on Bravo and Jadeja who almost involved themselves in a run-out. But with four needed off last two deliveries, Jadeja released all the pressure with a might six, sparking celebrations in the Chennai dugout.
Earlier, the Knight Riders started off well Sunil Naraine and Chris Lynn unleashing a few lusty blows. But experienced Harbhajan Singh cut short Naraine’s knock. Later Robin Uthappa tried to make up for the early jolt with a 16-ball 29.
However, with Suresh Raina running Uthappa out, the Knight Riders were struggling at 81 for four, which soon became 89 for five.
Then captain Dinesh Karthik steadied the KKR innings in the company Andre Russell, with the latter taking Super Kings apart with whirlwind unbeaten knock of 88 runs, scored off just 36 deliveries with the help of 11 sixes and a four.
Russell was also severe on Dwyane Brave hitting three consecutive sixes at the beginning of the 19th over bowled by his former West Indies team mate.
The KKR will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday and the Super Kings will travel to Indore on Sunday for their next match against Kings XI Punjab.
Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 202 for 6 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 88 n.o., Robin Uthappa 29, Dinesh Karthik 26, Shane Watson 2/39) lost to Chennai Super Kings 205 for 5 in 19.9 overs (Sam Billings 56, Shane Watson 42, Amati Rayudu 39, MS Dhoni 25); T. Curan 2/39).
