RANCHI, India, CMC – West Indies opener Dwayne Smith sparkled only briefly but his Chennai Super Kings never looked in trouble as they hammered Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders by 34 runs in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.
In a rain-hit game reduced to 17 overs per side at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Chenna posted 148 for three and then restricted Kolkara to a disappointing 114 for nine.
Smith slammed 16 in his usual place at the top of the order, cracking two fours and a six in his 11-ball at the crease. He was lbw in the third over of the innings, sweeping at Shakib al Hasan (2-25) after hoisting the left-arm spinner over long off the previous delivery.
Smith’s opening partner Brendon McCullum top scored with 56 from 40 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Suresh Raina got 31 from 25 deliveries.
Narine finished wicket-less from his four overs that cost 26 runs while Windies fast bowling all-rounder Andre Russell, in for his first game of the series, took one for 25 from his two overs.
In reply, opener Robin Uthappa top scored with a patient 47 from 38 balls and Yusuf Pathan cracked 41 from 29 balls, but the remainder of the Kolkata batting floundered.
The victory was the fifth in the competition for Chennai while Kolkata’s poor season continued with their fourth defeat.
