A sensational cameo from Ravindra Jadeja (22 off 8 balls) towards the end helped Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets in the last ball of their IPL match on Sunday.
This win took CSK to the top of the points table Sir Ravindra Jadeja sealed a close match for Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling Indian Premier League encounter here on Sunday as his back-end pyrotechnics ensured a two-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Sir Ravinder Jadeja (22 runs from 8 balls) launched pacer Pratik Krishna, who bowled the 19th over, where the pacer completely lost his length in the attack of the Saurashtra all-rounder and CSK managed 172 in exactly 20 overs. Target reached. Instead of bowling yorkers, Krishna repeatedly bowled longer deliveries as Jadeja made it easy in the final over with two sixes and two fours. Krishna gave away 22 runs in the last over leaving CSK for four runs in the last over.
But there was more drama in the match as Sam Curran and Jadeja were dismissed by Sunil Narine before Deepak Chahar finished the match with a single.
However, KKR left much to be desired under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan as the decision to bring in Krishna in the 19th over would be debated.
Morgan saw an injury to Anre Russell in his defence, but Naren could have presented more of a challenge for Jadeja in the 19th over.
The win also meant that CSK remained unbeaten after the IPL resumed and were once again back at the top of the order with 16 points.
Chasing a challenging 172, CSK were down and out at 142/6 before Jadeja took the responsibility on himself. KKR posted 171/6 as they were ridden on a late flourish by former captain Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana after the foundation was laid by Rahul Tripathi (45).
CSK failed to capitalize on an aggressive start of 74 by Ruturaj Gaikwad (40 off 28 balls, 2 fours and 3 sixes) and South Africa’s Faf du Plessis (43; seven fours). KKR overtook CSK by sending both the openers back early.
After this, CSK had to face a decline in the middle order. Spinner Varun Chakraborty brought KKR back in the game by dismissing Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Earlier, a late cameo from former captain Dinesh Karthik and a steady long handle from Nitish Rana took Kolkata Knight Riders to a score of 171 against Chennai Super Kings in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.
Seamers Shardul Thakur (2/20 in 4 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/21 in 4 overs) put on impressive performances to keep KKR going till the 13th over, when they were 93 for 4.
However, 78 runs came off the last seven overs and KKR were able to make more than the fighting score largely due to Sam Curran (0/56 in 4 overs) scoring runs at the back end.
Even Josh Hazlewood (2/40 in 4 overs) got a little stick to help KKR’s cause. The stage was set by Rahul Tripathi (45 off 33), who hit four fours and a six, but it was the CSK bowlers who did not allow the KKR batsmen to either free their arms or settle down.
Kolkata lost opener Shubman Gill (9) after a terrible mix with Venkatesh Iyer in the first over.
One-down Tripathi and in-form Venkatesh Iyer (18) tried to revive the innings, but the southpaw was unable to convert his start after the dismissal of Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Thakur.
Tripathi, who got his first boundary, a forceful pull shot over mid-wicket, found a ‘life’ even after the ball on which he was declared as a ‘no-ball’.
In the very next over, he made his first maximum shot at deep extra cover. Captain Eoin Morgan (8) also fell cheaply as he dismissed du Plessis off Josh Hazlewood as KKR were in trouble at 70/3.
Tripathi also fell in the 13th over as he was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja as KKR slipped to 89/4.
Then Andre Russell (20) hit Sam Curran for two boundaries and a monstrous six in the 15th over as KKR scored 14 runs.
But Shardul Thakur forced Russell to pull it back to his stumps. Then Rana and Karthik’s show took them past 170.