KKR pulled together a near-perfect T20 game, keeping their opponents to a modest score and then remaining ahead of the required rate throughout the chase
Mumbai: Chennai Super Kings 131-5, Kolkata Knight Riders 133-4 - Kolkata Knight Riders won by six wickets
Kolkata Knight Riders began the new Indian Premier League season in emphatic style, crushing defending champions Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai.
KKR pulled together a near-perfect T20 game, keeping their opponents to a modest score and then remaining ahead of the required rate throughout the chase.
CSK, without Moeen Ali and Deepak Chahar, stumbled out of the blocks.
By the end of the 10th over of the first innings, having been asked to bat by Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer, they had managed just 61 for 5.
MS Dhoni made a half-century in vain for Chennai Super Kings (screengrab/BCCI)
Umesh Yadav removed the dangerous opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway for 0 and 3 respectively, and claimed the man of the match award with figures of 2 for 20, while Ambati Rayudu made a laboured 15 from 17 deliveries, and Shivam Dube added just 3.
MS Dhoni, playing for the first time in half a year, showed his ability has not deserted him with a 38-ball 50 to pull the Super Kings towards a total that was close to respectable, but ultimately it proved to be horribly light.
Ajinkya Rahane and Iyer laid a good platform in response for KKR, sharing a first-wicket partnership worth 43 in 6.2 overs, while the top order all made contributions of some sort in the chase.
Rahane top-scored with 44 from 34 balls, and victory was secured with nine balls to spare.
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