Madushanka replaces injured Carse in SRH squad
Chennai, Apr 14:
Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL season just went from bad to worse with Chennai Super Kings demolishing them by 32 runs on a tricky surface, exposing head coach Abhishek Nayar’s poor planning and skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s archaic approach here on Tuesday.
On a two-paced track, CSK, after a blazing powerplay that fetched them 72 runs, managed a decent 192 for five, which was 20 short of par but proved to be good enough to outclass KKR, who were stopped at 160 for seven in the allotted 20 overs.
Rahane’s team lost wickets in a clutch as left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmed (3/21 in 4 overs) wreaked havoc, blowing away the middle-order to ensure an easy win.
On a pitch where the ball gripped, Noor was more than a handful as he removed Rahane, Rinku Singh (6) and Cameron Green (0), as KKR slumped from 79 for two to 90 for six.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hossain (1/26 in 4 overs) was also more than decent, keeping batters in check.
Rahane (28 off 22 balls) and Raghuvanshi (27 off 19 balls) adding 50 runs in just over five overs was an eyesore, as their approach was reminiscent of how batters chased this kind of target a decade ago.
Mumbai men Rahane and Raguvanshi batting in the KKR top-four has proven to be an unmitigated disaster for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side, which has now lost four out of the first five games. (PTI)
Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings 192/5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 48, Dewald Brevis 41; Sunil Narine 1/21).
Kolkata Knight Riders 160/7 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 31 not out, Ramandeep Singh 35; Noor Ahmad 3/21).
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