Chennai Super Kings

IPL 2010: Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders at Chennai

Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay scored unbeaten half-centuries to ensure that the Chennai Super Kings beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, who were restricted to 139 for eight, are now relying on other results to go in their favour if they are to make the semi-finals while the Super Kings have made giant strides towards the business end of the tournament.

Raina was unbeaten on a dashing 78 in 39 balls and Vijay made 50 in 40 balls as the Super Kings also did their net run-rate a power of good by cruising home with six overs and three balls in hand. Their victory was first set up by an impressive spell from off-spinner Ravi Ashwin, who opened the bowling and dismissed Chris Gayle (7), Brendon McCullum (0) and David Hussey (0) to return figures of three for 16.

Doug Bollinger had Sourav Ganguly trapped in front for ten and although Angelo Mathews (48) and Manoj Tiwary (27) helped to rebuild the innings, Chennai kept it tight and were always the favourites at the halfway stage.

In reply, Matthew Hayden fell early, failing to score before being bowled by Gayle but that was as good as it got for the Knight Riders, who were then smashed to all parts by Raina and Vijay. Raina thumped 11 fours and three sixes and Vijay helped himself to four fours and two sixes as the pair put on an unbroken 137-run stand to seal the match. The crushing manner of Chennai’s victory lifted them to second in the table ahead of four other teams on 12 points by virtue of their superior net run-rate.