Video: Tahir, Raina, Jadeja star as CSK beat KKR

The Chennai Super Kings juggernaut continued to roll on in the IPL 2019 with Suresh Raina and Imran Tahir starring in a five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Chasing KKR’s 162, led by Chris Lynn’s sparkling half-century and Tahir’s career-best figures which limited the score, Suresh Raina roared back to form with a half-century to lead CSK’s chase. Aided by a cameo from Ravindra Jadeja, CSK capped off yet another win – their seventh of the season.

CSK’s innings was one full of abrupt starts and instantaneous stoppages. After Shane Watson endured yet another failure at the top, Faf du Plessis belted four boundaries in a row off Andre Russell to give the innings steam. But just when du Plessis was beginning to look ominous for KKR, the spinners were introduced and suddenly, the game seemed to be changing its course

Sunil Narine, on his return match, cleaned up du Plessis when the batsman missed a sweep. Since, CSK tried to forge two partnerships but both failing after starts. Raina and Ambati Rayudu added 17 for the third wicket, while the left-hander and Kedar Jadhav added 20. On both occasions, the leg spin of Piyush Chawla got the better of batsmen. Rayudu was snared out cheaply, whereas Jadhav threw away a start which saw him strike three boundaries and a six.

With KKR spinners slowly allowing them to crawl back, it was up to CSK’s most reliable pair of Raina and MS Dhoni to bail CSK out of trouble and the duo seemed to be doing so with Dhoni striking Kuldeep Yadav down the ground for a maximum. But a struggling back held Dhoni back and making the most of it was Narine, who trapped the skipper out leg before, the review not saving him.