IPL 2023: Chennai Defeats Kolkata By 49 Runs To Claim Fifth Victory; Tops Point Table Overtaking Rajasthan
Kolkata, 23rd April 2023: In reply to Chennai Super Kings’ 236 runs, Kolkata Knight Riders showed a fighting spirit and scored 186 runs in the 33rd match of this season held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. But this battle fell short by 49 runs. CSK defeated KKR to overtake Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the points table. Chennai has won five out of seven matches so far and earned 10 points.
Jason Roy top-scored for KKR with 61 runs. While bowling, Tushar Deshpande and Maheesh Theekshana took two wickets each. Ajinkya Rahane scored an unbeaten knock of 71 runs from Chennai. He was well supported by Conway (53) and Shivam Dube (50).
KKR got off to a poor start as they chased down the mammoth 236 runs set by Chennai Super Kings. Both their openers returned to the pavilion for just one run. But captain Nitish Rana (27) and Venkatesh lyer (20) tried to save the innings. But Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali chased both of them into the pavilion to make KKR 70 for four.
KKR’s defeat now seemed to be a mere formality. But Jason Roy and Rinku Singh started to resist the Chennai bowlers. Roy took on an aggressive turn and helped KKR to score a century. But the partnership of 65 runs between these two was finally broken by Theekshana. He dismissed Jason Roy who scored 61 off 26 balls. After this, Rinku changed his gear and started attacking CSK bowlers single-handedly.
Andre Russell (9) and David Wiese (1) left Rinku soon after. Umesh Yadav was also dismissed for four runs. Now the match was slipping away from KKR. Rinku fought till the end scoring an unbeaten 53 off 33 balls.
