CSK vs KKR Highlights, IPL 2023: Rana, Rinku fifties guide Knight Riders to six-wicket win over Super Kings

First win for Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk since the IPL 2012 final win. Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana steered the visiting side home with a 99-run partnership which saw the two left-handers counter CSK’s spin threat with skill. Knight Riders just about remain alive in the race to the Playoffs while Super Kings will have to wait to confirm its berth in the top-four.

Deshpande comes back. Four needed for the win. Low full toss and Russell drives this down the ground for a single. Slower one and Rana is beaten trying to drive. WIDE! This is very wide outside off. KKR needs just two now. FOUR! Rana finds the third man boundary and KKR wins by six wickets with nine balls to spare.

Pathirana continues. OUT! Rinku is run out at the non-striker’s end, courtesy a direct hit from Moeen. This ends the 99-run partnership between Rana and Rinku. Too little too late for CSK? FIVE-WIDES! Huge wide outside leg, Dhoni does well to reach it, but the ball still runs away to the boundary. Just eight needed now. Russell gets off the mark with a single. Rana flicks off his toes for a couple to end the over.

Theekshana continues. A couple of singles off the first three balls. Just 16 needed off 21 now. Tucked off the pads for one more by Rinku. Rana gets to his fifty off 41 balls with another single. An absolute masterclass this from Rana and Rinku in how to play spin with a calm head.

KKR just needs 28 to win from 30 balls. Here comes Pathirana. Rinku steers this to deep backward point for a single. Yorker on the stumps and Rana fends this comfortably. Rana flicks another yorker to deep square for one. A no-ball called for a full toss over the waist. FOUR! Brilliant yorker but Rinku manages to dig it out for a boundary at deep midwicket. That brings up Rinku’s fifty off 39 balls.

Theekshana comes on. FOUR! Rana cuts this away hard behind point for a boundary. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries as Rana slams this pitched up delivery down the ground. The next one is nudged to mid-on for a couple more. A couple of singles more to end the over.

Jadeja continues. SIX! Rinku slog sweeps this over the midwicket fence and 100 comes up for KKR in 13.5 overs.

Moeen bowls out. FOUR! Exquisite timing and placement. Rana backs away outside leg and goes inside out over the cover region for a boundary. FOUR! Similar shot over extra-cover and the same result. Back-to-back boundaries for KKR. Rana goes inside out over extra-cover again but this is just a single.

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack. He keeps it on the legs and both batters collect a single each off the first two deliveries. SIX! Length outside off and Rinku thumps this down the ground for a maximum. Fifty-run partnership up between Rinku and Rana off 44 balls.

Moeen continues. FOUR! Rana unleashes his reverse-sweep and gets a one-bounce four at deep third. Dropped! Rana gets a top edge on the sweep and Pathirana cannot hold on to this after running in from deep square-leg. A huge sigh of disappointment from the fans at Chepauk. Rana gets one away for a single behind point. A boundary and four singles from the over and this is what KKR needs.

KKR needs 83 runs from 66 balls. Keeping wickets in hand will be key here for the visiting side. Matheesha Pathirana into the attack. Beaten! Short of good length on middle and off and it beats Rinku’s innocuous prod outside off. Misses his line next ball, called wide for going down leg. Turned off his pads by Rinku and Rayudu puts in a dive at mid-on to save four crucial runs. A good bouncer this time and Rana just ducks under it. A couple to end the over as Rinku guides this short delivery to deep third.

Moeen continues. Two dots to start the over. Rinku is wary of getting to the pitch of the ball. FOUR! He gets to the pitch of the ball this time with a slight shimmy and finds the point boundary. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries. Rinku gets an outside edge while looking to slash this and the ball just goes over the slip fielder for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana from the other end. Rana drives through covers for a single. Full and Rinku makes a bit of room to drive to long-off for one more. KKR brings up 50 in 7.1 overs. Driven inside-out by Rana for a single at deep point. Rinku gets one more as he drives this through cover-point. Four singles from the over.

Moeen Ali into the attack. Off-spinner to bowl to the two left-handers at the crease. Straying on the pads and worked to leg for a single by Rana. Rinku lunges forward to defend. Drifting down leg again and Rinku works it off his hips for one more. Beaten! Rana presses forward to defend but the ball straightens just a bit to beat the outside edge. A single to long-off to end the over.

Deshpande to bowl the final over of the PowerPlay. He comes from around the wicket to Rinku. A couple of dots to start the over as Rinku comes to terms with the angle and the length. He pushes the third delivery to mid-off and hares for a single. Drifting on the pads and Rana gently flicks it on leg-side for a dot. One more for Rana as he pushes this through point. SIX! Half-volley on off-stump and Rinku extends his arms and clears the long-off rope.

SIX! Short-of-a-length down leg and Rana swivels and pulls this just over the fine-leg boundary for a maximum. OUT! Roy will be kicking himself after that dismissal. Slow yorker outside off and Roy guides this straight into the hands of the short third-man fielder. FOUR! Rinku Singh is off the mark with a cracking boundary through extra-cover. He will keep strike with a single off the last ball.

Deshpande continues from the other end. Roy starts off with a couple. This one stops on Roy a bit and he almost hands a catch at mid-on. Roy slashes through the off but it is stopped brilliantly by Gaikwad at point - just a single. Rana is off the mark with a single to deep third. Just four runs from the over.

Chahar continues. FOUR! Half-volley wide outside off and Venkatesh Iyer drives this through covers for a boundary. He steps out next ball and rides the bounce, slashing this through cover-point for one more. Width outside off again and Roy slaps this to deepp point for a single. FOUR! Another full freebie outside off and Iyer throws his arms at it and finds the cover boundary. OUT! Iyer has his man after being struck for two boundaries. Iyer slashes outside off and gets an outside edge to the short third-man fielder. Chahar goes short and this is called wide for height. Short again, drifting down leg but the umpire is okay with it and not called a wide.

Deshpande from the other end. Starts with a wide down leg-side. FOUR! Roy pulls this away with dismissive ease to the midwicket boundary. Pitched up and driven to mid-off for a dot ball. Beaten! Roy swings and misses as the ball stays a bit low and just skims over the stumps. Slower one, wide outside off and steered behind point. Third consecutive dot to end the over as this one bounces a bit extra and Roy splices it back to the bowler.

KKR is about to begin its 145-run chase. Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will open the innings. Deepak Chahar with the ball from over the wicket. Single off the first ball for Roy as he nudges the ball behind square-leg. Wide down leg-side next ball as Chahar swings it away too much. This one shapes away outside off and Gurbaz shoulders arms. On the pads, Gurbaz steps out and gets an inside edge while trying to whip it on leg-side and just gets a single. The ball seems to have hit his thigh and the physio is having a look at him. OUT! Gurbaz goes. Wide outside off, Gurbaz looks to clear the point boundary but Tushar Deshpande takes a brilliant catch, running from backward point.

KKR is one over behind and can only field four fielders outside the circle as a penalty. Can CSK capitalise this?. Vaibhav will bowl the final over. Superb ball to start off, right in the block hole but Dube sneaks in a double. Slow and short, Dube slogs it for just a single. Yet another perfect yorker but Jadeja gets a quick double. Jadeja miscues a short ball and hits it to Varun and the crowd goes beserk. We all know the reason for it! The crowd on their feet with the flashlights on, that’s been a regular sighting this season whenever Dhoni has come into bat. Vaibhav starts off with a wide, Rana opts for DRS and thats way outside the line, review lost. Vaibhav bowls a brilliant dot ball but as he walks back the siren blows, he has over stepped! FREE HIT. Full toss and straight through Dhoni as it crashes on to the stumps, briliant stuff from Vaibhav. Wide outside off, Dhoni hits it straight and collects a double as CSK gets to 144. This is their lowest total this season!

Shardul replaces Suyash for the penultimate over. Outside off, Jadeja tries to sweep it but misses, Shardul starts with a dot. Gets a single on the next ball. Shardul bowls a wide full toss but Dube fails to capitalise and settles for another single. Shardul bowls an over head wide. What an over this is turning out to be, just four from it. A single to finish

Varun is in to bowl his final over. Two singles off the first two deliveries. On the pads, exactly where he likes it, and Dube dispatches it into the stands for a SIX. Two wides to follow. Their partnership is now worth 54 runs. Short and quick, Dube collects a double. Double to end the over

Suyash to bowl his third, replaces Varun. The three-spinner strategy has worked out well for KKR. CSK gets to its 100 with a single from Dube. Short and Jadeja capitalises as he slaps it on the legside for a SIX. Wide outside off, Jadeja tries to cut it but misses, keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz appeals for a caught behind but the umpire is unmoved. DRS taken and it shows a flat line, unsuccessful. Adding insult to the injury, Suyash over steps and it is a free hit with Dube on strike. Pitched short and Dube smokes it into the stands for yet another SIX. Fuller this time, Dube drives through covers for a single.

Shardul replaces Suyash. CSK will look to attack his over. And that is exactly what Dube has done as he clips one on the legside for a four, the first one after 19 deliveries! And the crowd has become impatient as they start their Dhoni chants. single to finish as CSK is inching towards 100. This partnership is now worth 27 off 30 deliveries and they need to accelerate if they intend to put something healthy on the board for their bowlers to defend. Strategic timeout!

Change of ends as Varun replaces Narine. Spin chokehold from KKR now as CSK’s run rate dips below seven. Huge spin on that one, Jaddu tried to defend but misses it completely.

Spin from both ends as Suyash continues. Wide outside off and Jadeja nudges it for a single. Short and straight, Jadeja defends off the backfoot and gets a single. Just four from the over

Narine continues. Continues to bowl on the stumps and gives away just one from three balls. Narine is toying with the batters, this time its Jadeja who almost plays it on to the stumps. Single to end the over

Suyash Sharma replaces Shardul. Concedes just two from the first four. And Dube does just what his side wants, smacks one over covers for a SIX as Suyash offered a bit of width. Straighter this time, Dube make room for himself and drives through covers for a single. Nine from that over

Narine is into the attack and he strikes straightaway! Through Rayudu’s defense and clips top of off. Chennai in trouble! Moeen Ali is in at six. Brilliant over so far, a wicket and just four runs. Narine strikes twice in an over! Spun just a bit to decieve Moeen Ali who looked clueless as his stumps got castled! Ravindra Jadeja is the next batter in.

Ambati Rayudu b Narine 4 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 57.14

Moeen Ali b Narine 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50

Shardul Thakur replaces Varun. Both Conway and Rayudu are struggling to connect balls. Just as we speak, Conway miscues a short ball and skies it to Rinku Singh, who completes the catch comfortably! Lord Shardul Strikes! Shivam Dube comes into the crease. Short and width offered, Rayudu glances it towards thrid man for a single.

Devon Conway c Singh b Thakur 30 (28b 3x4 0x6) SR: 107.14

Naraine continues. Conway gets a single off the first ball. That spun quite a bit into Rayudu but he defends it on the backfoot. Another dot. On the pads, Rayudu negates it on the legside and gets a single to get off the mark. Rayudu checks his defense on the front foot, the ball stayed in the air for a while but goes just out of reach from Naraine. Strategic timeout!

Varun continues. Conway defends on the front foot and gets trapped leg before, huge appeal and the umpire has given it, Conway opts for DRS, and that’s wickets missing, CSK retains the review as Conway gets a reprive. The batters are constantly keeping the scoreboard ticking. Looks like Conway is feeling some sort of discsomfort on this right leg, as he runs uncomfortably to get a single. Spin yet again gets the better of Rahane as he goes against the spin and gives it to Roy at long on! Rahane departs for 16. Ambati Rayudu is in at three

Ajinkya Rahane c Roy b Varun 16 (11b 1x4 1x6) SR: 145.45

Sunil Narine is into the attack as PowePlay comes to a close, he replaces Harshit. Narine will be looking for that elusive wicket, he’s gone wicketless in the last five matches. Good shape on the ball, spinning away from Conway, as the latter gets beaten. Quick single to follow. Good over from Naraine, just 5 from it

Varun replaced by Vaibhav, surprising move from Rana considering Rahane is on strike as he’s been brutal with pacers. Double off the first ball. Follows it up with a quick double, the CSK batters have been brilliant between the wickets. vaibhav surprises Conway with a bouncer, goes down as one for the over. Back of the length, Conway swings and misses. Dot to complete

Harshit replaces Vaibhav. Outside off , Conway drives but a lovely bit of fielding at short extra cover from Roy. Short and fast, Rahane opens the face of the bat towards third man to collect a four. Follows it up with a dot. Rahane takes on Harshit, on the up and he lofts it over mid on for a SIX

Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack, replaces Harshit. Gaikwad welcomes him with a sweet sweep to get a four. Gaikwad goes against the spin, the ball stays in the air for a while but falls safe, two runs. Outside off, Ruturaj swings and miscues it directly to the hands of Arora! Varun strikes in his first over! Ajinkya Rahane is in at three. Gets off the mark with a single. Over pitched and Conway latches on to it as he drives through covers for a FOUR.

Ruturaj Gaikwad c Arora b Varun 17 (13b 2x4 0x6) SR: 130.76

Vaibhav continues. On Conway’s pads and its a safe single. Wide outside off, Gaikwad cuts it deep but settles for a single. Just three off the first three balls, tidy over so far. on the up and angling into Gaikwad, he tries to cut but mishits but he steals a single. On the pads, Conway with a wel-timed flick to get a four, Rinku Singh puts on a good effort on the boundary but wasn’t able to stop it

Harshit Rana is into bowl the second. Starts off with a dot with Ruturaj on strike. Gaikwad makes room for himself and plays a good looking cover drive but it is staright to the fielder. Short, on the backfoot and Gaikwad collects a single. Short, on the hips and Conway guides it towards third man for a four. Brilliant running yet again from the batters as they take a quick two

Vaibhav Arora will start with the new ball as Ruturaj gets ready at the striker’s end. Ruturaj starts off with a quick single as CSK gets off the mark. On the pads, Conway flicks it on the legside to collect a well-run double. One more, good running between the wickets from the CSK openers. Width offered and Ruturaj leans on to the ball and drives it through covers for the first four of the night. Similar dlivery but short this time, Ruturaj tries to slap it but it takes an inside edge and he has to settle for a single. Dot to finish the over

KKR players make their way into the middel followed by CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway. A win here will lead to CSK qualifying for the playoffs

Matches played: 62

Won: 44

Lost: 17

Win%: 70.97

Last result: Beat Delhi Capitals by 27 runs (2023)

Last five results: Won - 3; Lost - 2

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Jason Roy, Nitish Rana(c), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy

Wicketkeepers:Devon Conway (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Andre Russell

Bowlers: Tushar Deshpande, Varun Chakravarthy (vc), Matheesha Pathirana

Team Composition: CSK 6:5 KKR Credits Left: 7.5

We’ll bat first. We’ve been slightly uncertain about the wicket, and as the tournament has progressed the pitch gets slow. Throughout the years, we have told openers to assess the pitch quickly and find what’s a good score. After 6-8 overs we need to revisit our score because the ball loses its shine. I think we have done really well, but fielding is one department where we need to step up. Can improve 5-10%.

DHONI WINS TOSS AND ELECTS TO BAT FIRST. CSK will come in with an unchanged 11 while Anukul Roy makes way for Vaibhav Arora in the KKR starting 11

KKR Predicted XI (Batting first): Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.

KKR predicted XI (bowling first): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma/Anukul Roy.

KKR Impact Player options: Suyash Sharma, Jason Roy, Anukul Roy, David Wiese, Mandeep Singh.

CSK Predicted XI (Batting first): Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande.

CSK Predicted XI (Bowling first): Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni (c) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Maheesh Theekshana, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande.

CSK Impact Player options: Ben Stokes, Maheesh Theekshana, Ambati Rayudu, Shaik Rasheed, Akash Singh.

Fans have turned up in huge numbers to witness CSK’s last home game in the league stage. They will also have the opportunity to get signed merch from their favourite stars as CSK have planned a lap of honour after the match tonight.

Royal Challengers bundled out Rajasthan Royals for a paltry 59, the third lowest total in IPL history, and posted a massive 112-run win to move fifth on the points table.

Our correspondent Ayan says: Tonight’s match is on Pitch no. 3, which was used for the MI v CSK game. It was slow then and did not offer exaggerated turn , which could negate the threat posed by KKR’s spinners.

Matches played: 9

Chennai Super Kings won: 7

Kolkata Knight Riders won: 2

Last result: Chennai Super Kings won by seven wickets (2019)

Last five results: CSK won - 4; KKR won - 1

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has little to complain about after a great IPL 2023 campaign so far, but will have to be wary of a volatile Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) outfit in its last home game of the league stage on Sunday.

CSK has had the upper hand over KKR, having won 18 of the last 27 meetings between them. Kolkata must be feeling the after-effects of the brutal takedown by Yashasvi Jaiswal just two nights ago. Meanwhile, the Super Kings reaffirmed their status as title contenders with a 27-run win over the Delhi Capitals at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

The surface used for that match was a traditional slow pitch. With the league stage now winding to a close, expect Sunday’s wicket to play similarly. Any score higher than 170 could end up being a winning total.

Dhoni has been sensational for CSK at the death, smacking 78 off 35 against fast bowlers in seven innings. He has been relatively quiet against spin, collecting 18 off 12. Varun Chakravarthy has dismissed Dhoni three times in four innings, with the latter averaging 3.66 against him. KKR could consider holding back an over of Varun for the death.

As far as KKR’s batting goes, it’s curious that while the overall quality seems to have improved, it is still struggling to achieve consistency. One reason could be Venkatesh Iyer’s inability to capitalise on spin. He has scored 136 off 101 balls in eight innings. Iyer has batted mainly at No. 3 this season. Given that spinners are usually operational between 7 and 16, your one-down is expected to dominate the slower bowlers, something Iyer has not done sufficiently. His problems will compound against a CSK side laced with a clutch of spinners.

A key matchup could be that of Rinku Singh and Matheesha Pathirana. Rinku has taken over the KKR finisher’s mantle from Andre Russell this year, while the young Lankan has been Dhoni’s go-to bowler between overs 17 and 20. How Rinku aces the yorker test will be interesting to watch.

A win will push CSK closer to a playoff spot. The Knight Riders, who have won three of their last five, need to depend on other results going in their favour.

-Ayan Acharya

Matches played: 27

Chennai Super Kings won: 18

Kolkata Knight Riders won: 9

Last result: Chennai Super Kings won by 49 runs (2023)

Last five results: CSK won - 4; KKR won - 1

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni(c), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Deepak Chahar, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Sisanda Magala, Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma, Akash Singh.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Jason Roy, Aarya Desai.

The IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will be telecast across the Star Sports network and can also be live streamed on JioCinema app/website.