IPL 7 T20 CSK vs KKR: Chennai thump Kolkata by 34 runs

Chennai Super Kings scored a thumping 34-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match of the Indian Premier League in India at Ranchi.

Ravindra Jadeja was the star bowler for Chennai picking up four wickets while Mohit Sharma claimed three.

Kolkata kept losing wickets at regular intervals with only two batsmen reaching double figures. While Robin Uthappa scored a fighting 47, Yusuf Pathan smashed a 29-ball 41 including four sixes as Kolkata managed 114 for nine in 17 overs.

Earlier, Brendon McCullum scored a superb half century as Chennai Super Kings scored 147 for three in 17 overs.

Winning the toss and opting to bat in a rain-delayed match that was reduced to 17 overs, McCullum (56, 40b, 5x4, 2x6) and Dwayne Smith (16, 11b, 2x4, 1x6) gave a strong start.

Suresh Raina (31) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22 not out) made crucial contributions to further consolidate Chennai score before Ravindra Jadeja smashed a 9-ball 16 to ensure Chennai had a good total.

For Kolkata, Shakib Al Hasan claimed two wickets.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

That's another wicket as Pathan is lbw. KKR 113-9 in 16.5 overs.

Yusuf Pathan lbw b Sharma 41 (29b 1x4 4x6)

Chawla is out as he holes one in the deep to Du Plessis. KKR 113-8 in 16.4 overs.

Piyush Chawla c du Plessis b Sharma 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Three big sixes from Pathan. But all those coming a tad late. The final over and Kolkata need 40 from it. KKR 110-7 in 16 overs.

Kolkata face another loss as Russell is also out. They now need a near impossible 58 from 12 balls. KKR 91-7 in 15 overs.

Andre Russell b Sharma 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Jadeja is on a roll as he bags his fourth wicket. This time he ends Uthappa's fine run as Dhoni takes a simple catch. KKR 88-6 in 13.4 overs.

Robin Uthappa c Dhoni b Jadeja 47 (38b 5x4 1x6)

Pathan finally looks to be getting his ball to the bat. KKR 84-5 in 13 overs.

Pathan still not finding his shots. He has already played nine balls to score just five runs. Uthappa on 46 from 36 balls. KKR 74-5 in 12 overs.

Kolkata are 69-5 in 11 overs.

Jadeja picks his third wicket as Yadav departs. It's becoming increasingly difficult for Kolkata now with 84 runs required from 45 balls. KKR 65-5 in 9.3 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav lbw b Jadeja 8 (13b 0x4 0x6)

A fine over from Ashwin as he gives away only eight runs from his two overs. KKR 64-4 in 9 overs.

Uthappa gets a fine boundary as Kolkata reach 59-4 in 8 overs.

Kolkata will hope Uthappa continues his good run. He is playing excellent cricket reaching 33 from 23 balls. KKR 49-4 in 7 overs.

Kolkata in deep trouble as Shakib goes in the first ball. He looked to be in a real hurry as he holes one in the deep to Sharma. KKR 38-4 in 5.2 overs.

Shakib Al Hasan c Sharma b Jadeja 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

That's another blow for Kolkata. Pandey departs as KKR looks to be in trouble. KKR 38-3 in 5.1 overs.

Manish Pandey c McCullum b Jadeja 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Ashwin tastes success in his very first over as he removes Kallis. Kolkata need 111 from 72 balls. CSK 38-2 in 5 overs.

Jacques Kallis c Manhas b Ashwin 4 (6b 1x4 0x6)

Uthappa is looking promising. A six and a boundary followed by a four from Kallis meant Kolkata are 35-1 in 4 overs.

Kolkata need 129 runs from 84 balls. Not a very difficult one but they need to be careful not to lose wickets. KKR 20-1 in 3 overs.

There was a positive start from both the openers but a foolish move meant Gambhir is run out. KKR 17-1 in 2.2 overs.

Gautam Gambhir run out 7 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Uthappa hammers two beautiful boundaries. KKR 16-0 in 2 overs.

Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa open for Kolkata as Ben Hilfenhaus bowls for Chennai.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS

Interesting flow of events as Jadeja who was given lbw out had to return after the third umpire confirmed a noball bowled by Narine. CSK 132-3 in 16 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja begins with a bang as soon as he arrives to smash a lovely six. CSK 126-3 in 15 overs

McCullum finally is gone. Russell's delivery is wide of off stumb and McCullum slices it hard but only to find Pathan. CSK 119-3 in 14.3 overs.

Brendon McCullum c Pathan b Russell 56 (40b 5x4 2x6)

Runs coming in singles only. Narine bowls another fine over as only six runs again is given. CSK 114-2 in 14 overs.

Kolkata bowlers slowly fighting back to control things. Vinay bowls a good over giving away only six runs. CSK 108-2 in 13 overs.

McCullum pulls a powerful six off Kallis delivery to reach his half century in style. He is in an awesome form. CSK 102-2 in 12 overs.

Raina succumbs offering a simple catch in the deep of a fulltoss. But he has put Chennai in a fine position as Chennai have a current run rate of over eight. CSK 90-2 in 10.4 overs.

Suresh Raina c Yadav b Shakib Al Hasan 31 (25b 4x4 1x6)

Raina takes charge this over as Chawla bowls another expensive over. 13 runs were scored including a six and a boundary as Chawla leaks 31 runs from his three overs. CSK 85-1 in 10 overs.

Expensive over from Vinay. Two back to back boundaries as McCullum moves to 39. Raina has hardly been getting the strike. CSK 72-1 in 9 overs.

McCullum is ensuring the score is moving faster. A boundary in Chawla's over as the run rate is over seven. CSK 59-1 in 8 overs.

A fine six off the last ball of Vinay's bowling ensured McCullum reached 21. CSK 51-1 in 7 overs.

Raina gets into the act as he snaps two boundaries of Chawla's first over. CSK 43-1 in 6 overs.

McCullum not getting a chance to free his arms. Shakib has kept a tight line. He gives away 19 runs from his three overs. CSK 33-1 in 5 overs

Narine has another fine over except for a boundary from McCullum. CSK 29-1 in 4 overs.

An eventful over so far for Shakib as Smith succumbs. The very first ball he looked as if he was stumped before umpire called it a dead ball as Shakib's towel fell when he was bowling. Nevertheless he is trapped in front in the third ball. CSK 20-1 in 2.3 overs.

Dwayne Smith lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 16 (11b 2x4 1x6)

McCullum also gets a boundary as Narine is brought in early by Kolkata. CSK 14-0 in 2 overs

Positive start for Chennai as Smith cracks two boundaries of Shakib's over. CSK 9-0 in 1 over.

The openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum are in the middle to open the proceedings for Chennai.

There is good news. It will be a 17-over a side match. The powerplay will last five overs and three overs can bowl a maximum of four overs each.

It looks like the rain has stopped. Tthe umpires have come out for an inspection but nothing clear as such.

It's still raining slightly. Curator says nothing to worry and the delay might only be for 15 minutes.

Playing XI

CSK: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Mahendra Singh  Dhoni, Mithu Manhas, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ishwar Pandey, Mohit Sharma.

KKR: Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, R Vinay Kumar, Sunil Narine

Chennai win toss and Dhoni opts to bat first. There has been a slight drizzle at the stadium. But thankfully no rains predicted.

PREVIEW

After a successful completion of the first leg of the Indian Premier League in the UAE, the first match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders is all set to lock horns in Ranchi.

Chennai will have the biggest support here no doubt since Dhoni hails from this city.

Chennai are also second in the table winning four of their five matches while Kolkata are fourth with two victories from five matches.

Kolkata's captain Gambhir who had a miserable start in this season's IPL saw some runs come off his bat in the last match before leaving to India from the UAE.

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