CSK edge KKR in last-ball thriller to regain top spot

Chennai, April 28: Two-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pulled off a sensational last-ball 2-run victory over reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with some brilliant bowling and fielding effort which saw them defend a low score in their thrilling IPL 2015 match, here on Tuesday night.

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Put into bat, CSK found the going tough against KKR, who produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the hosts to 134/6 in their stipulated 20 overs. (Hogg's sets IPL record)

However, CSK returned with a clincal bowling and fielding performance, led by Dwayne Bravo (3/22) and R Ashwin (2/5), to restrict KKR to 132/9 and continue their domination at home.

Needing 17 runs off six balls, Ryan ten Doeschate (38 not out) blasted a six and a couple of fours but it proved too little and too late as KKR fell short by two runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Chasing 134, KKR had a disastrous start as their skipper Gambhir (0) was dismissed by Ishwar Pandey in the second ball of the innings.

Opener Uthappa scores 39

Other opener Robin Uthappa (39) then shared a 51-run partnership with Manish Pandey (15). The duo blasted eight boundaries and one six in their 29-ball second wicket partnership.

However, CSK skipper MS Dhoni soon introduced Ashwin into the attack and the spinner got him a wicket with the very first delivery, dismissing Uthappa with Brendon McCullum pulling off a smart catch at short midwicket.

In his second over, Ashwin took another wicket in his first ball, sending Pandey back into the hut with Bravo taking the catch at the deep midwicket area as KKR slipped to 61-3 in 7.1 overs.

Yusuf Pathan (13) and Suryakumar Yadav (16) tried to steady the innings but with Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja bowling in tandem, the boundaries dried up.

KKR reduced to 91/5

With the required runrate mounting, Yadav tried to pull a quick Mohit Sharma ball but Bravo pulled off a stunning low catch with one hand running in from long-on as Kolkata slumped to 76 for 4 in 12.2 overs.

Needing 47 off 31 balls, Pathan went for a big shot off Bravo, only to see his inside edge disturb the stumps as KKR looked down the barrel at 91 for five in 15.2 overs.

Andre Russell (4) was the next to depart when his pursuit to take a second run ended with a run out, while Pat Cummins was holed out by Jadeja off Bravo at deep midwicket.

Next man Piyush Chawla (0) too departed without disturbing the scoreboard after he was decieved by a slower delivery from Bravo.

CSK restricted to 134/6

Earlier, defending champions KKR produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict two-time winners CSK for a modest 134 for 6.

Russell (2/26) and Chawla (2/26) were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets each, while Brad Hogg (1/18) snapped one after KKR skipper Gambhir won the toss and elected to field.

Dwayne Smith (25) and McCullum (19) gave CSK a blistering start as they put KKR attack to the sword and picked up fours and sixes at will to amass 38 in four overs.

Chawla gets McCullum

Gambhir then introduced Chawla into the attack and the leg-spinner dismissed McCullum after trapping him in front of the wicket. The New Zealand skipper blasted three fours and one six in his 14-ball innings.

New batsman Raina, however, seemed unfazed as he sent Chawla over the fence with a powerful slog sweep in the square leg region in the last ball of the over. Spinner Brad Hogg and pacer Andre Russell then checked the run flow with some good bowling as Smith and Raina looked for singles and twos.

In the ninth over, Smith was dismissed by a brilliant throw by Yusuf who hit the stumps after the batsmen were trying to steal a quick single. The West Indies batsman hit three boundaries and a six in his 19-ball stay.

Russell sends Raina back

In the next over, Russell sent Raina packing when he induced an edge from the batsman with wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa taking the catch as CSK were reduced to 67 for 3.

Dhoni (3) also didn't stay long as his six-ball stay was cut short by a bouncer from Russell as Chennai slumped to 81 for 4.

Chawla then returned to dismiss West Indies all-rounder Bravo (5), who looking for a big shot ended up giving a simple catch to S Yadav at long-off. Newman Faf du Plessis (29 not out) then brought up the hundred for Chennai with a couple of runs at deep square leg.

With wickets tumbling, Du Plessis and Jadeja (15) needed some big hits but the duo failed to raise the runrate with Hogg cleaning up the latter with a quicker ball in the 19th over.

PTI