A stunning 22-ball half-century from Dewald Brevis and a crafty four-wicket haul by Noor Ahmad powered Chennai Super Kings to a thrilling two-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. In a high-pressure chase, CSK recovered from a dire 60/5 to overhaul KKR’s 179/6, clinching victory with two balls to spare.
On a sluggish surface, Noor’s 4-31 was instrumental in choking KKR’s innings after a brisk start. Despite fighting knocks from Ajinkya Rahane (48), Andre Russell (38), and Sunil Narine (26), KKR fell short of a more imposing total — something their skipper rued.
We were 10-15 short, 185-195 would’ve been ideal. The bowlers gave it their all, but that 30-run over from Brevis turned the game. Credit to him and Dube for being brave.
CSK’s top order imploded early in the chase, but Brevis counterattacked with audacious strokeplay, smashing 52 off 25 balls including four sixes and four boundaries. Shivam Dube held one end steady with a composed 45, and the pair added crucial runs during a pivotal middle phase. Despite late stumbles, a six from MS Dhoni and a calm finish by Anshul Kamboj sealed the deal for CSK.
Dhoni, pragmatic as ever, downplayed the emotion around the result. “This is just our third win,” he chuckled. “We’re out of the tournament, but it’s still about testing combinations, giving players a chance and seeing who stands up under pressure.”
Thanks to Brevis, he gave us the luxury to take it deep. It’s about backing yourself and having the awareness to play your shots. That’s what we want to see — intent and mental toughness.
CSK's spin trio — Noor, Jadeja and Ashwin — combined for 5-84 in 11 overs, stalling KKR's momentum after a strong powerplay. In the final over of the chase, with eight needed, Dhoni flicked Russell for a vintage six before Kamboj hit the winning boundary over mid-off.
While CSK are officially out of playoff contention, the fight shown by their young guns offered a glimpse into the future — and for the fans, one more moment of Dhoni magic in what could be his final season.
Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 179/6 (Rahane 48, Russell 38; Noor Ahmad 4-31) Chennai Super Kings 183/8 (Brevis 52, Dube 45; Arora 3-48, Chakaravarthy 2-18) CSK won by 2 wickets
