Bengaluru, April 21: The Kolkata Knight Riders fell to a heart-breaking loss in Mumbai as Chennai Super Kings registered an 18-run win at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Chennai Super Kings hammered the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers as they put up a massive target of 220/3.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had been struggling with the willow this season, stamped his authority with a sizzling 64 off 42. On the other hand, Faf du Plessis played a sizzling unbeaten knock of 95 off 60. The duo stitched together an opening stand of 115 off 77 to hand the Chennai Super Kings a flying start.
Moeen Ali and MS Dhoni, who came up the order ahead of Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja, played quickfire knocks to guide CSK to a solid total. While Ali scored 25 off 12, Dhoni chipped in with 17 off 8.
After putting up a stellar show with the bat, Deepak Chahar gave Chennai the perfect start, as he picked up four wickets in the power play. The Knight Riders got off to a shaky start as they lost five wickets in the power play.
But when it looked like the Knights would lose by a massive margin, Andre Russell (54 off 22) did what he does best with an explosive knock. Russell and Dinesh Karthik fought back with a sizzling partnership of 81 off 39.
But Curran removed the explosive West Indies batsman to put Chennai back in control. But Pat Cummins had other plans. With Lungi Ngidi removing Karthik for 40 off 24, Cummins took over the game with a smashing unbeaten knock of 66 off 34.
But two run outs ended the Knight Riders hopes as they were bowled out for 202. The Knights almost pulled off a stunning comeback, but the Super Kings held on to pick up their third consecutive victory. Meanwhile despite their stellar comeback, KKR have now lost three on the trot.
Here's how the KKR vs CSK match panned out:
End of the match: Kolkata Knight Riders fell to a heartbreaking loss to the Chennai Super Kings. Russell, Karthik and Cummins herculean effort went in vain, as the Knights fell 18 runs short. With Wednesday's loss the Kolkata team have now lost three on the trot. On the other hand, Deepak Chahar's brilliant four wicket haul and Faf du Plessis stellar unbeaten knock off 95 saw Chennai Super Kings register their third win on the trot.
OUT!! Attempting to take the second Prasidh Krishna can't get back and KKR lose by 18 runs.
20 needed off the six! Cummins on strike
Prasidh Krishna on strike
Run out!! Attempting the two, Chakravarthy sacrifices his wicket as Cummins is back on strike.
SIX!!! Cummins keeps KKR in the game! 22 needed off 10 now
FOUR!! After three consecutive wides Cummins find the boundary.
50 up for Pat Cummins as he brings up his second IPL half-century off 23 deliveries.
Quiet over from Ngidi as he gives away only five runs and picks up a wicket
FOUR byes! beats Dhoni and runs away to the boundary ropes
WICKET!! And Nagarkoti goes for a second ball duck and dampens KKR's chances as he is picked up by du Plessis at long on
Cummins put Knights right back into the game. 45 needed off 24 to win
Cummins hammers Curran. 30 runs off the over as Cummins smashes 4 sixes and a boundary!! Cummins keeping the game alive for the Knights
Back-to-back SIXES!! Pat Cummins taking over the responsibility from Karthik and Russell.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti the new man in.
KKR lose review, Karthik goes for 40 off 24. Ngidi picks up an important wicket as KKR lose their seventh of the night
KKR lose review, Karthik goes for 40 off 24. Ngidi picks up an important wicket as KKR lose their seventh of the night
OUT! Given out! But Dinesh Karthik reviews it
SIX!! Cummins picking up the pace now as he goes high over long on for a maximum
Ngidi replaces Jadeja. A single to begin the over
FOUR!! Two back-to-back boundaries to end the over. 11 runs off the over.
FOUR!! Cummins finds his first boundary off Shardul Thakur.
After leaking 24 runs in his first over, Shardul Thakur is back for his second
Quiet over from Jadeja as only four runs come off it
FOUR! The former KKR skipper follows up the maximum with a boundary past deep midwicket. 12 runs and a wicket of Sam Curran's over
SIX!! Dinesh Karthik keeps the game going as he finds the maximum over square leg
WICKET!! And terrible moment for KKR as Sam Curran removes Andre Russell. Russell's explosive innings come to an end as he goes for 54 off 22
SIX!!! Russell whacks this into the stand and brings up his 50 off 21 deliveries.
FOUR! A boundary over midwicket to begin the over. DK keeping up with Russell tonight
SIX!! Expensive first over for Shardul Thakur as he leaks 24 runs. This one sails over deep midwicket for a maximum