IPL 2023: All-round KKR keep slim playoff hopes alive by outclassing CSK in battle of spin in Chennai

By India Today Sports Desk: An all-round group present from Kolkata Knight Riders helped them register an important six-wicket win in opposition to Chennai Super Kings on the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai to keep up their slim playoff hopes alive.

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MS Dhoni gained the toss for his side and opted to bat first. Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway acquired off to a constructive start inside the first three overs, sooner than KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy struck to eradicate Gaikwad inside the fourth over.

Conway then stitched a cautious 30-run stand with Ajinkya Rahane, sooner than Chakravarthy despatched Rahane packing after scoring 16 runs off 11 deliveries inside the eighth over. Conway shortly adopted swimsuit as Shardul Thakur joined the event for KKR. Conway scored 30 runs off 28 balls, hitting three boundaries.

Ambati Rayudu could not switch the scoreboard quite a bit and walked once more to the pavilion after being cleaned up by Sunil Narine. The West Indian spinner then went on to dismiss the hard-hitting Moeen Ali within the an identical over to go away CSK reeling at 72 for 5 after 11 overs.

Dube, Jadeja save CSK’s blushes

However, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja caught spherical for an obligatory 68-run stand to alleviate the stress off CSK. With the pitch aiding the spinners, Dube carried out a inconceivable unbeaten knock of 48 runs off 34 balls, hitting one boundary and three maximums.

Their partnership was delivered to an end when Vaibhav Arora dismissed Jadeja inside the closing over of the first innings. Dhoni received right here in to bat with two balls remaining, and managed in order so as to add two runs as CSK ended their innings with 144 for six on the scoreboard.

In the second innings, CSK pacer Deepak Chahar acquired his side off to a super start by eliminating KKR opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz inside the very first over. He received right here once more inside the third over and picked up the wicket of Venkatesh Iyer to peg KKR once more.

Chahar was made to proceed my Dhoni and he produced for his side as quickly as as soon as extra, this time sending the damaging Jason Roy once more to the pavilion, leaving the friends reeling at 33 for 3 after 4.3 overs.

Rana, Rinku flip the game’s tide

After getting off to a poor start, captain Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh common an important partnership to point out the tide of the game. Rana was dropped by Matheesha Pathirana off Moeen Ali’s bowling when he was batting on 18, which proved to be very costly for the hosts.

Both the batters scored half-centuries and struck a 99-run stand for the fourth wicket, which was the very best fourth-wicket partnership in opposition to Chennai on the Chepauk inside the historic previous of the IPL.

Rinku scored 54 runs off 43 balls, hitting 4 boundaries and three maximums, whereas Rana hit an unbeaten 57 off 44 deliveries, whereas smashing six fours and a solitary six as KKR chased the purpose down with six wickets and 9 balls remaining. This was their third win in 10 matches in Chennai.

This victory meant that KKR keep inside the hunt for a spot inside the IPL 2023 playoffs with 12 elements from 13 matches. As for CSK, their likelihood of qualifying for the playoffs was dealt a blow as they now sit second inside the desk, with 15 elements from 13 matches.