CSK vs KXIP: CSK reign in clash of Kings

Chennai: R. Ashwin (3/23) bowled one of his outstanding limited-overs spells in recent times, but his efforts in front of his home crowd went in vain as Kings XI Punjab slumped to a 22-run defeat at the hands of Chennai Super Kings.

It was M.S. Dhoni, Chennai adopted son, who spoiled Ashwin’s homecoming party. Ashwin had pinned his former franchisee down to 127 for three in 18 overs, but Dhoni, in his trademark style, finished with a flourish to power CSK to 160 for three. After Faf du Plessis hit a stroke-filled fifty, Dhoni (37 not out) anchored the innings to fetch CSK 33 runs in the last two overs. And it proved to be the turning point.

Kings XI’s chase looked on course with KL Rahul (55) and Sarfaraz Khan (67) putting on a 110-run stand for the third wicket, but they fumbled at the finish line.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh struck twice in his first over. Opening the attack with pacer Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan removed Chris Gayle (5) and Mayank Agarwal (0) in a space of three deliveries to help Chennai tighten their grip on the match.

Kings XI required 56 from the last five overs, but Harbhajan and leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled tight spells to leave the visitors needing 46 from 18.

Scorecard

Chennai Super Kings: S. Watson c Curran b R Ashwin 26, F du Plessis c Miller b R Ashwin 54, S. Raina b R Ashwin 17, MS Dhoni (not out) 37, A. Rayudu (not out) 21. Extras (w 5) 5. Total (for three wickets in 20 overs) 160.
FoW: 1-56, 2-100, 3-100.
Bowling: Shami 4-0-41-0, R. Ashwin 4-0-23-3, Curran 4-0-35-0, Tye 4-0-38-0, M. Ashwin 4-0    -23-0.
Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul c Jadeja b Kuggeleijn 55, C. Gayle c Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh 5, M. Agarwal c du Plessis b Harbhajan Singh 0, S Khan
c du Plessis b Kuggeleijn 67, D. Miller b Chahar 6, Mandeep Singh (not out) 1, S. Curran (not out) 0. Extras (nb 2, w 2) 4. Total (for five wickets in 20 overs) 138.
FoW: 1-7, 2-7, 3-117, 4-135, 5-137.
Bowling: Chahar 4-0-40-1, Harbhajan 4-1-17-2, Kuggeleijn 4-0-37-2, Jadeja 4-0-24-0, Tahir 4-0-20-0.