New captain, new team, same old result. Kolkata Knight Riders
dropped three catches, then allowed Chennai Super Kings' spinners
to get on top of them and eventually finished two runs short chasing
a moderately challenging 154. Earlier,
dropped three catches, then allowed Chennai Super Kings' spinners
to get on top of them and eventually finished two runs short chasing
a moderately challenging 154. Earlier,
the fourth season of the Indian Premier League kicked off
here at the Chidambaram Stadium accompanied with the usual
colour and music.
here at the Chidambaram Stadium accompanied with the usual
colour and music.
MS Dhoni's Chennai were tactically ahead than
the Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata. The Knights appeared
unreasonably edgy despite a good start to the chase with
Jacques Kallis' 54. The South African veteran added
64 with Mavindar Bisla. But all it took to spook Kolkata was
some turn and bounce.
the Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata. The Knights appeared
unreasonably edgy despite a good start to the chase with
Jacques Kallis' 54. The South African veteran added
64 with Mavindar Bisla. But all it took to spook Kolkata was
some turn and bounce.
Dhoni shuffled his spinners, clawed back into the game,
and eventually Tim Southee denied Rajat Bhatia the last-ball four
needed for the win. Gambhir oddly came out to bat in the 18th over,
a move which failed which his second-ball run-out.
and eventually Tim Southee denied Rajat Bhatia the last-ball four
needed for the win. Gambhir oddly came out to bat in the 18th over,
a move which failed which his second-ball run-out.
It was a two-paced wicket. Srikkanth Anirudha set up the
Chennai charge with his fifty IPL fifty. The opener outpaced
Suresh Raina in making 64 after Murali Vijay had fallen for
four in the first over. Chennai had earlier elected to bat.
Chennai charge with his fifty IPL fifty. The opener outpaced
Suresh Raina in making 64 after Murali Vijay had fallen for
four in the first over. Chennai had earlier elected to bat.
Anirudha was dropped twice, once by Yusuf Pathan on 11
and then by Eoin Morgan on 32. Yusuf also put down Raina on 14.
In a game of fine balances, the drops cost Kolkata the match.
Raina made 33 and Dhoni 29. Chennai looked good for 170,
but had a slow finish to the innings.
and then by Eoin Morgan on 32. Yusuf also put down Raina on 14.
In a game of fine balances, the drops cost Kolkata the match.
Raina made 33 and Dhoni 29. Chennai looked good for 170,
but had a slow finish to the innings.
After a sturdy start of 64, Shadab Jakati teased
Bisla out of his crease for a stumping. Yusuf walked out to finish
off things quickly. He powered Jakati down the ground for a six.
But the game turned in the 13th over by Suraj Randiv.
Bisla out of his crease for a stumping. Yusuf walked out to finish
off things quickly. He powered Jakati down the ground for a six.
But the game turned in the 13th over by Suraj Randiv.
The Sri Lankan off-spinner with the ridiculously
simple run-up and action kept the ball up to the bat and
slipped in the odd doosra that kept Kolkata's batsmen guessing.
Yusuf survived a stumping in that over, but ran himself out,
courtesy a Dhoni direct hit, trying to steal a single that
would have given Kallis his fifty.
simple run-up and action kept the ball up to the bat and
slipped in the odd doosra that kept Kolkata's batsmen guessing.
Yusuf survived a stumping in that over, but ran himself out,
courtesy a Dhoni direct hit, trying to steal a single that
would have given Kallis his fifty.
Despite admitting later that he was tentative with the new team,
Dhoni looked like he thoroughly enjoyed the day; that run out in particular.
Dhoni looked like he thoroughly enjoyed the day; that run out in particular.
Ravichandran Ashwin continued to impress. In four overs,
he gave away just 26 and dismissed Kallis,
who swept a simple catch to fine leg.
Suresh Raina then slipped in a decisive over in which he
dismissed Morgan while Gambhir was run out.
he gave away just 26 and dismissed Kallis,
who swept a simple catch to fine leg.
Suresh Raina then slipped in a decisive over in which he
dismissed Morgan while Gambhir was run out.
Morgan charged Raina, who saw the left-hander coming and
fired in a quicker ball. Dhoni finished the easy stumping.
Raina has in the past proven himself incredibly useful
as a bowler for Chennai. Today was one more of those occasions
fired in a quicker ball. Dhoni finished the easy stumping.
Raina has in the past proven himself incredibly useful
as a bowler for Chennai. Today was one more of those occasions
