Chennai Super Kings put on an impressive display of batting against Kolkata Knight Riders, scoring a massive 235 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. The total was built on the back of some aggressive batting from Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, and Devon Conway. Rahane top-scored with a blistering knock of 71 runs off just 29 balls, including five sixes. Dube and Conway also played their part, hitting half-centuries, and contributing eight and three sixes respectively.
The Kolkata Knight Riders started their chase poorly, losing two wickets in the first three overs, and were never able to recover. They eventually ended their innings at 186 for 8, falling short by 49 runs. Despite some decent contributions from Jason Roy and Rinku Singh, who scored 61 and 53 runs respectively, they were never really in the game. The loss was their fourth in a row, and they find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table.
The win meant that Chennai Super Kings leapfrogged the rest of the teams to the top of the leaderboard with five wins in seven matches. They now have a two-point lead over a cluster of teams on eight points apiece. The win was built on some excellent batting, which saw them score the highest total in IPL history at Eden Gardens.
The highlight of the innings was undoubtedly the batting of Ajinkya Rahane, who played an innings of sheer brilliance. He came in at number four and immediately took the attack to the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers. Rahane scored his fifty off just 24 balls and ended with a strike rate of 244.83. He showed great composure and technique to hit some of the most stunning shots of the innings.
But Rahane was not alone in his batting exploits. Shivam Dube, who has been in great form this season, also played a crucial role. He hit a quickfire 50 off just 28 balls, which included four fours and three sixes. His partnership with Rahane was a treat to watch, as they both hit the ball to all parts of the ground. Devon Conway, who has been in terrific form this season, also played his part. He scored his fourth straight half-century, which set the innings up for the middle order to take the attack to the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers.
The opening partnership between Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad was also crucial to the innings. They put on 73 runs in just 7.3 overs, which set the tone for the rest of the innings. Gaikwad was dismissed early, but Conway continued to bat with aggression, hitting the ball hard and long.
The Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers never really got going, and their length deliveries were punished by the Chennai Super Kings batsmen. They failed to take wickets early on, which allowed the Chennai Super Kings batsmen to take the attack to them. Suyash Sharma’s first over was a glimpse of what was to come, as he got the ball to drift and turn, beating the inside edge of Gaikwad’s bat. But the relief was short-lived, as Conway hit Sunil Narine for a massive six down the ground in the very next over.
The Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers continued to struggle, and the last five overs of the innings went for 75 runs. The Chennai Super Kings batsmen took the attack to them and made the bowling attack look pedestrian. Rahane and Dube, in particular, seemed to be having fun, and their batting was a treat to watch.
