IPL: Narine, Russell taste defeat

CHENNAI, India (CMC):

Sunil Narine sparkled briefly with the bat and followed up with a steady spell, but neither effort was enough to prevent Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from suffering a seven-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

Sent in at MA Chidambaram Stadium, KKR could only muster 137 for nine from their 20 overs, captain Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with 34 from 32 balls and opener Narine punching 27 from 20 deliveries.

All-rounder Andre Russell failed to fire, however, striking two fours in scoring 10 before perishing at the start of the penultimate over.

In reply, CSK reached their target with 14 balls to spare, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad blasting 67 from 58 balls at the top of the order.

Narine’s four overs of off-spin cost 30 runs and yielded one wicket, while Russell’s single over of pace went for eight runs.

The defeat was KKR’s first in four games this season, while CSK notched their third victory in five outings.

KKR lost Phil Salt to the first ball of the game from seamer Tushar Deshpande (3-33), but the left-handed Narine struck three fours and a brace of sixes to lead a recovery in a 56-run, second-wicket stand with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (24).

Both fell in the seventh over from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3-18) as KKR slumped to 85 for five in the 12th over, but Iyer propped up the lower order in a 27-run, sixth-wicket stand with Rinku Singh (9).

CSK then lost Rachin Ravindra for 15 in the fourth over, but Gaikwad countered, striking nine fours to inspire a 70-run, second-wicket stand with Daryl Mitchell (25) and a 38-run, third-wicket partnership with Shivam Dube, who belted an 18-ball 28.

Narine accounted for Mitchell in the 13th over, bowling the New Zealander as he attempted a charge.