Chennai, Apr 9 (UNI) Despite a fighting half century by big hitting Andre Russell (50, 44 balls, 5x4, 3x6) and a three wicket burst by medium pacer Deepak Chahar and two wickets each by spinners Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir, helped defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to 108 for nine in the IPL match here tonight.
Asked to bat first on a slow wicket, KKR lost wickets at regular intervals, including five at the half way stage due to poor shot selection, and ended up setting a modest target for the home team.
For CSK, Deepak Chahar claimed three wickets, while Harbhajan and Imran claimed two wickets, with left arm spinner Ravindra jadeja getting one wicket as CSK, managed well to restrict the opposition to a low total, despite Russell's quality innings on a slow track.
The contest between the two teams is being held exactly 365 days after the CSK won the match last year, in its only match held here, when Andre Russel, pummelled the bowling with 11 sixers (36 ball 88) and CSK overhauled in the chase.
The setting was perfect and it was dream start for the home team as KKR lost four wickets within the powerplay, with medium pacer Deepak Chahar claiming three wickets.
In form KKR openers Chris Lynn (zero) and Sunil Naraine (six) left in the first two overs, while Nitin Rana and Robin Uthappa fell to bad shot selection.
Lynn tried for a pull and was trapped in front, Sunil Naraine stepped out against Harbhajan and top edged to point and Nitish Rana (zero) and Robin Uthappa (11), who hit two boundaries of Chahar off successive balls, too fell trying a pull shot on a wicket, where the ball did not come to the bat.
Soon Imran Tahir joined the act getting rid of KKR skipper and local lad Dinesh Karthik (19, 21b 3x4), who has been looking good, whipped straight to Harbhajan at short midwicket as the visitors lost their fifth wicket by the ninth over, putting the onus on flamboyant and tormentor Andre Russell to stem the rot.
Soon Shubman Gill was stumped by Dhoni off Tahir as KKR lost its sixth wicket a just a ball over half-way stage.
Thereafter it was left for Russell to take the centre stage as he hoisted Harbhajan over long on for a six, making his intentions clear.
Dropped by Harbhajan off his own bowling, misreading a top edged skier, and surviving a LBW review by CSK off Imran Tahir, Russell held the fort as Piyush Chawla was stumped by Dhoni off Harbhajan, going for an ambitious shot, to give the offie his second wicket, as the ball spun a long way.
It all boiled down to one man Russell, who refused singles, but relied on his big hitting skills, though he once hoisted Chahar, who completed with a spell of 4-0-20-3, for a six in the penultimate over, with the last man in Harry Gurney in company.
Despite suffering a sort of cramps in his left wrist, Russell pulled Kugglejin to midwicket for a six and a four in the final over, as KKR huffed and puffed to cross the 100-total mark.
Considering the dew factor and the batting depth of CSK, KKR would find it difficult to defend the total unless a miracle of sorts happen.
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