KKR vs CSK, Talking Points: Raina roars, Tahir claims career-best

Fashioning their seventh win were Suresh Raina and Imran Tahir who starred with a half-century and a four-for respectively.

Chennai Super Kings continued their dominance in the IPL 2019 with a five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Fashioning their seventh win were Suresh Raina and Imran Tahir who starred with a half-century and a four-for respectively. We highlights that, and some other talking points from the match below.

‘Lynnsanity’ takes over Eden Gardens

Having missed the previous game due to an illness, Chris Lynn roared back with a half-century. Lynn took exactly two balls to declare his intent. He took on Deepak Chahar, perhaps CSK’s most standout pacer in the series and took him for four boundaries and a six in his first two overs to bring up 1000 IPL runs. Chahar’s new-ball partner, Shardul Thakur, fared slightly better against Lynn but he too went for a couple of fours in his first. Lynn surprisingly went reserved as he approached his half-century. Though once he got there off 36 balls, he decided to get a move on. And the bowler he targeted was Jadeja, bowling the 14th over. Lynn welcomed the left-arm spinner with three consecutive sixes before perishing in the deep for 82.

Tahir’s career-best sinks KKR

Imran Tahir has been one of the keys behind CSK’s success this season with 3 for 9 against Royal Challengers Bangalore and a couple of more miserly spells against Rajasthan Royals and KKR itself. But the wily legspinner saved his best for the second take and registered his career-best IPL figures of 4 for 27 which choked KKR’s innings. In his first spell, Tahir struck twice in three balls to send back Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa (0) to bring CSK back after Lynn had taken on their bowlers. But it was his second spell which turned the course of the innings. With KKR looking set for a total of round about 180, Tahir picked up two more – including Lynn and the dangerous Andre Russell to prevent KKR from attaining any momentum in the death.

Raina roars back to form

Kept quiet in the tournament heading into the fixture, Suresh Raina scored his first half-century of the season and fashioned CSK’s chase of 162. Raina held one end after he went upstairs and successfully reviewed a leg before appeal. He was offered a couple of leg-sidish slacks initially in the innings, to which the batsman gleefully responded. While the rest of the batting struggled against wrist spin, Raina took Chawla for a boundary and six off consecutive balls and endured to put the half-trackers away. It took his 36 balls to reach his half-century and remained unbeaten till the end to help CSK consolidate their position at the top.

Jadeja cameo gets CSK through

Ravindra Jadeja had an off day with the ball, giving away 49 runs in his four overs and going wicketless. Hence, when it was his turn to make amends with the bat, the allrounder did not disappoint. Jadeja came out to bat when Dhoni had been dismissed for 16 and CSK needed 41 off 16. He began his innings by drilling Prasidh Krishna over his head for a boundary, and while with all eyes were on Raina, Jadeja single-handedly brought CSK on the brink of win in the penultimate over. With 24 needed off 12, Jadeja smacked three fours in a row, aided by Gurney himself, who callously drifted down Jadeja’s legs to bring the equation down to eight needed off six. Without much sweat, Jadeja and Raina completed the formalities to help CSK consolidate their