Tahir's brilliance sinks Kolkata as CSK continue golden run

Tags: Indian T20 Cricket 2019, Chennai XI, Kolkata XI, Mohammad Imran Tahir

Published on: Apr 14, 2019

Chennai Super Kings continued their winning streak in IPL 2019 as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. Chennai now have seven wins in eight games, four of them in a row. Kolkata Knight Riders, in contrast, have succumbed to three losses in a row.

Imran Tahir was the star for Chennai with the ball. His four-for kept KKR down to 161 after Chris Lynn's 82 from 51 balls threatened a lot more. In the chase, Suresh Raina punched his 36th half-century, remaining unbeaten on 58 from 42. Raina had a reprieve when he got an lbw decision off Harry Gurney overturned early in his innings. This was after Shane Watson didn't take one, a good decision as he wouldn't have survived.

The match was close going into the last two overs as well with 24 needed. This is when Ravindra Jadeja blasted three consecutive fours off Gurney to turn the equation completely in his team's favour. Faf duPlessis and Kedar Jadhav's 20s also helped considering Ambati Rayudu completely struggled out in the middle.

KKR were left to rue the fact that they could not capitalise on Lynn's brilliant innings Tahir was supported by supported very well in the catching department as Chennai hit back hard. The first of those was when du Plessis came in charging in from the boundary to hold on to Robin Uthappa's slog.

Lynn and Andre Russell's dismissals further turned the clash. Lynn was pouched at deep square leg by Shardul Thakur while Russell was taken by Dhruv Shorey charging in from long-on. This was after Russell hit Tahir for a four and six. KKR only managed 31 from the last five overs, which cost them dearly in the end.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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