Chennai Super King : 153/4 in 20 Overs [ A Srikanth 64, S Raina 33, MS Dhoni 29,Albie Morkel 15 * , Kallis 2/34] beat Kolkata Knight Riders 151 /7 in 20 Overs [ Kallis 54 , MSD Bisla 27, HK Tiwary 27 ] by 2 runs.
Man of the Match: S Anirudha [CSK]
Captain Cool MS Dhoni outwitted his fellow Indian Team mate Gautam Gambhir as Chennai Super King [CSK] pulled off a thrilling 2 runs victory over Kolkata Knight Riders [KKK] in the exiting opening match of IPL 4thversion. It seems that Indian Captain has a Midas touch. Whatever is doing now is working in his favor , whatever is touching is turning gold. CSK for most part of the match were on the back foot. KKK was cursing by mid way of their innings. But brilliant bowling changes and field setting by Dhoni and some smart stumping led CSK win the thriller. There was not even a World Cup hangover. Worshippers of cricket assembled in good numbers, danced and sang as the home team made a winning start.
A revamped KKK with a depleted side for absence of three key players Bret Lee, Brad Haddin and Saquibul Hasan [busy in ODI series in Dhaka] held the upper hand for most part of the game. But poor fielding and inexcusable batting order setting by Gautam Gambhir cost them the match.
IPL T20 Championship featuring 14 Indian Franchise and displaying cricket talents from all over the cricket world went off to a glamouorous start yesterday. World cricket remains glued to this cricket festival as it is glamorous cocktail of Bolywood and World cricket. The fourth edition has widened its scope as not two more franchise has been added widening it still deep into Indian Territory.
Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat. KKK could have put CSK on the back foot very early if Yusuf Pathan did not drop two easy catches to get rid of Rina and Aniruddha Srikanth.Junior Srikanth went on to score 64 and Raina added useful 33 in a low scoring match Dhoni looked a little bit dazed. Still he scored 29 .KKK Bowlers Kallis, Iqubal Abuddlah and Yusuf Pathan bowled tight line and length to restrict CSK to manageable score of 153.
Instead of Gambhir opening the innings with Kallis Bisla was sent in. The opening pair added 64 before Bishla fell to Jakati. Gambhir must have come in at number 3 .But instead Yusuf Pathan was sent .Yusf looked shaky and ran himself out. Gambhir at number 3 could have piloted the innings as Kallis looked in usual touch. By the time Gambhir appeared at number 6 it was already late. CSK n bowlers stemmed the flow of runs.Tiwary and Morgan could hardly make any impression. When Kallis left at 54 skying one from Ashwin the slide started. Still Tiwary and Shukla kept the momentum till second last over. KKK required only 7 runs in the last over for photo finish. Dhoni brought in Tim Souhtee. It still appeared a cake walk with 4 wickets left. But Southee bowled a superv last over picking up the wicket of Shukla and conceding only 4 runs. CSK won the first match by 2 runs on the last ball.
