Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings defeat Kolkata http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Knight-c71599 Riders in thrilling IPL opener
CSK 153/4 20 overs KKR 151/7 20 overs
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2011 got off to an enthralling start as India’s World Cup winning captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820, continues to win, as his team made a stunning fight back at Chennai.
The hosts, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the toss and opted to bat first in front of a packed MA Chidambaram stadium. They stuttered losing their star performer from last year, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035, for only 4 runs.
However, they were soon on the recovery path and the second wicket partnership was in fact a match winning one between Srikkanth Anirudha, and, Suresh Raina, another member of the world champion Indian national team.
The two added 75 runs in less than 10 overs to give their team much needed momentum. Raina was sent packing by Yusuf Pathan for 33 scored off 29 balls. At this juncture the hosts were helped by Srikkanth’s aggressive intentions. He scored his half century
and eventually fell for a very well made 64 off 55 balls.
His innings was studded with 6 fours and 2 sixes. CSK failed to make the most of the platform that they were provided by Srikkanth and Raina and ended up with a par score of 153 in the allotted 20 overs.
Dhoni upped the tempo himself with a quick fire 29 at the end of the innings.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got in their chase off to a blazing start. The match was all but won when the score read 93/1, with Jacques Kallis blazing away.
Yusuf Pathan was dismissed at this stage for 11 runs and a stunning collapse ensued.
Kallis also lost his boundary hitting touch at the wrong time and was sent packing in the 16th over, the CSK spinners tightened the screws wonderfully with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Manoj-Tiwary-c1890 also falling soon after.
The last few batsmen could not quite cope with the mounting rate and kept losing their wickets. KKR ended their quota of overs at 151/7 handing a stunning 2-run win to the defending champions.
Srikkanth Anirudha was named man of the match for his impressive knock at the start of the CSK innings.
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