CRICKET
IPL: Umesh Yadav spell sinks CSK
Kolkata Knight Riders have started their IPL campaign with a convincing win in the opening match of IPL 2022.
Umesh Yadav was excellent with the new ball while the mystery spinners Narine and Chakravarthy delivered magnificent spells and both of them were almost unhittable in the middle-overs.
A homecoming to remember for @y_umesh! 💜#KKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar #CSKvKKR #IPL2022 #GalaxyOfKnights #কেকেআর pic.twitter.com/5x0b2IkXcs
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 26, 2022
Dhoni saved Chennai with a superb knock to put a respectable total on the board.
CSK    20 overs      131-5
Dhoni 50*(38).             Umesh 2-20                                                                                                                              Uthappa 28(21)            Chakravarthy 1-23                                                                                                                Jadeja 26*(28)             Russell 1-38
KKR      18.3 overs      133-4
Rahane 44 (34)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bravo 3-20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Billings 25 (22)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Santner 1-33Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rana 21 (17)
A ZORDAAR performance to get off the mark in #IPL2022! 🥳#KKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar #CSKvKKR #GalaxyOfKnights #কেকেআর pic.twitter.com/aSdAhtqszW
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 26, 2022
The defending champions were outclassed by the runners-up of last season.
Kolkata has registered an important victory under the leadership of their new skipper Shreyas Iyer.
Umesh Yadav set the tone by dismissing both the openers early on.
The two spinners blocked the flow of runs as only 38 runs were scored in their 8 overs.
MS Dhoni played a superb knock and his partnership with Jadeja helped Chennai to put 131 runs on the board. Dhoni and Jadeja shared an unbeaten stand of 70 runs for the 6th wicket.
Jadeja was not looking in great touch as he scored 26 runs off 28 deliveries and smashed only 1 six but still he played the supporting role very well in his partnership with Dhoni.
Umesh Yadav was not given a chance in the previous year but he picked up two early wickets today.
Umesh Yadav dismissed both Gaikwad and Conway cheaply.
Robin Uthappa was looking good as he smashed 2 sixes and 2 fours in his knock of 28 runs but Chakravarthy get rid of him in the 8th over.
The experienced Rayudu got run out after scoring 15 runs.
The dependable Dhoni
Chennai was t down on 61 in the 11th over but MS Dhoni once again shined at a crucial stage.
Dhoni rebuilt the innings alongside Jadeja.
He started slowly and he was batting at 7 off 17 deliveries at one stage but he shifted his gears in the death over, scoring 47 runs off the last 3 overs.
He ended on 50 runs from 38 balls including 7 fours and a six in his excellent knock that helped Chennai to put a decent score on the board but still, it was not enough for the bowlers to defend.
Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer gave a bright start to Kolkata as they scored 43 runs in the powerplay without losing any wicket.
Rahane played some beautiful shots while Venkatesh was dismissed by Bravo on 16 runs.
Rahane then continued with Nitish Rana but unfortunately fell only 6 short of his half-century and he lost his wicket on 44 runs.
DJ Bravo dismissed Nitish Rana (21) and Sam Billings (25) to finish with excellent figures of 3-20.
Shreyas Iyer remains unbeaten on 20 runs to get his side over the line in the 19th over.
Â