Cricket

IPL 2023: Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders, reach top spot

Sentinel Digital Desk

 KOLKATA: Chennai Super Kings reached the top position in the points table of Indian Premier League as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 49 runs at Eden Gardens on Sunday. This was CSK’s fifth win in seven matches.

Chasing 236 runs to win, the home side could score 186 runs in allotted overs losing 8 wickets. After losing two wickets before second over, Jason Roy smashed magnificent 61 runs off 26 balls with 5 sixes after couple of quick knocks by Venkatesh Iyer (20) and Nitish Rana (27). Rinku Singh played some attacking shots later of the innings. He remained unbeaten at 53 runs from 33 balls with 4 sixes.

Earlier, Devon Conway smashed his fourth consecutive fifty while Ajinkya Rahane dazzled with an unbeaten 29-ball 71 and Shivam Dube slammed a quick 21-ball half-century to propel Chennai Super Kings to a massive 235/4.

Conway continued his impressive show while Dube attacked the spinners effortlessly and Rahane went after both pace and spin, timing his shots magnificently as Chennai posted the highest IPL score at this venue and against Kolkata.

After a blistering 73-run opening partnership, Rahane and Dube shared a fantastic stand of 85 runs off 32 balls for the third wicket, giving many fans wearing the yellow jersey in the stadium enthralling moments.

The four-time champions had their plans bang-on in taking Kolkata's listless bowling attack to cleaners by hitting 18 sixes and 14 fours in their innings, with leg-spinner Suyash Sharma being the standout bowler for the hosts with his spell of 1-29.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 235/4 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 71 not out, Devon Conway 56; Kulwant Khejroliya 2-44, Suyash Sharma 1-29) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 186/8 in 20 overs (Jason Roy 61, Rinku Singh 53no, Nitish Rana 27, Tushar Deshpande 2/43, Maheesh Theekshana 2/32).

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