CSK beat KKR by two runs

Two-time winners Chennai Super Kings beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by two runs in a thrilling IPL match MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai yesterday.

Chasing a 135-run target, Kolkata managed 132/9 in their 20 overs with Dwayne Bravo taking 3/22 from his three overs, ably aided by Ravichandran Ashwin who took 2/5 in his two overs before going off the field with an injury to his bowling hand.

Bravo bowled a superb last over to Ryan ten Doeschate  conceding 14 runs when Kolkata needed 17 for victory.

Chennai registered their ninth successive win at home to move to the top of the points table.

The Kolkata run chase got off to a bad start as their captain Gautam Gambhir fell for a first ball duck on the second delivery of their innings.

Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey added 51 runs for the second wicket before Ashwin dismissed Uthappa on the first ball of his spell having him caught by Brendon McCullum at mid-wicket.

Ashwin struck again in his next over when he had Pandey caught by Bravo at deep mid-wicket.

Bravo then took a superb running catch at mid-on to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav off Mohit Sharma to reduce the visitors to 76/4.

Not done yet, Bravo then clean bowled Yusuf Pathan with a slower delivery to make it 91/5.

The final nail in the coffin for Kolkata came when Andre Russell failed to beat a superb throw by Ravindra Jadeja from deep mid-wicket into the hands of Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and was run out.

Bravo then took his second wicket when he had Pat Cummins caught by Jadeja at deep mid-wicket.

Earlier, Kolkata produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Chennai for a modest 134/6.

Russell (2/26) and Piyush Chawla (2/26) were the pick of the bowlers, while Brad Hogg snapped one after Gambhir won the toss and elected to field.

Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum gave Chennai a blistering start as they put Kolkata attack to the sword and picked up fours and sixes at will to amass 38 in four overs.