BANGALORE, India, CMC – West Indies stroke-maker Dwayne Smith helped playoff-bound Chennai Super Kings end their three-match losing skid, as they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight wickets here yesterday.
Set 155 for victory away at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, CSK motored to their target with 14 deliveries left, with Smith getting away at the top with 34 off 17 balls.
He struck four fours and a six and put on 57 off 26 balls for the first wicket with South Africa’s Faf du Plessis who top scored with 54 not out.
Smith was looking in great touch when he was dismissed by West Indies teammate Ravi Rampaul, taken at mid-wicket by Virat Kohli trying to reach the ropes again.
Rampaul, in only his second game of the series, picked up one for 21 from his two overs.
Du Plessis and captain MS Dhoni, who finished on 49 from 28 balls, then carried the innings with an explosive 75-run, unbroken stand for the third wicket.
Earlier, West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree finished wicket-less from his three overs which cost 29 runs, as RCB were held to 154 for six, after being sent in.
Playing without Windies opener Chris Gayle, RCB were inspired by Kohli who top scored with 73 from 49 balls.
At Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Darren Sammy-led Sunrisers Hyderabad were eliminated from playoff contention after going down to Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets.
Sammy, the former Windies Test captain, smashed a joint top score of 29 from 19 balls to help his side up to 160 for seven from their 20 overs.
Narine was brilliant was usual, conceding just 19 runs from his four overs.
In reply, Yusuf Pathan smashed the fastest ever IPL fifty off just 15 balls in scoring 72 from 22 balls, as KKR sped home in the 15th over.
West Indies fast bowler Jason Holder, in for his first game of the series, sent down three overs for 35 runs and claimed one wicket.
