Kolkata, March 17: A captain knock from MS Dhoni powered Chennai Super Kings to register their first victory in IPL III handing Kolkata Knight Riders a 56-run defeat at the Eden Garden here today.
Indian captain smashed his fifth IPL fifty and remained unbeaten on 66 from 33 balls hitting six fours and three sixes.
Dhoni’s beligerence silenced the roar of the packed Eden crowd,who came here in anticipation of another stellar performace from their Knights.
When the captain, the man of the match, walked in the park the visitors were then 55/3 in 9.1 overs.
But he in the company of young S Badrinath, who scored 43 from 33 balls, turned the table and took team to a commanding postion by by setting a target of 165 for the home side. KKR were off to a disastrous start as both the openers went cheaply.
Brad Hodge(o) was the first to perish after being caught by Ashwin on the second ball of Albie Morkel.
Previous match hero Manoj Tiwari, failed to carry forward his from, and followed his partner in the next over. He was bowled by Gony on 8.
The Knights surrendered meekly to the vicious attack of visting bowlers. Justin Kemp was wreaker in chief claiming 3 vital wickets giving just 12 runs. captain Sourav Ganguly (11) and Agelo Mathews (6). Rohan Gavskar (2). Saha was the only KKR batsman to reach beyond 20.
Earlier put in to field after Dhoni won the toss, Ishant Sharma gave host the first success of the day.
Hayden (1) in the bid to break the shackles swung his bat at Sharma’s away going delivery and a thick inside edge dismantled his furniture.
This was the second sucessive failure for the left hander after 17 in the first Match against Deccan Charge which Chennai lost.
After Hayden’s departure vijay in company of Suresh Raina took men in yellow pass 50 runs mark in the ninth over. The duo stitched at cautious 37 runs partnership from 33 balls.
Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla ended vijay’s stay at the crease after being hammered for boundary in the previous ball. Vijay, who survive run out on 12, scored 26 balls 33 with assistance of five hits to the fence.
Raina (18) joined him in the dugout in the next over when Brad Hodge bowled him on his first ball of the day.
Hence forth Dhoni and Badrinath led the rescue and revive act and brought them back into the match.
Murali Karthik impressed with ball for the third consecutive time.
Eventhough the spinner went wicketless, he conceded just 21 runs from his four overs and maintained below six economy rate.
Sharma and Bond also bowled a decent spell until their final overs. They were in the firing line of Indian captain and leaked 16 and 17 runs respectively in their last overs. Sourav Ganguly, who lost the toss for the first time in the tournament, rotated his bowlers at regular in intervals and kept the viositors guessing till late moment assault by the Men in yellow.
——Agencies