Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed a superb 33-ball 66 (6×4, 3×6) to guide the Chennai Super Kings to a 55- run win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in match eight of the IPL 2010 at Eden Gardens.

Dhoni and his unbeaten 109 runs partnership in 10.5 overs with S Badrinath (43, 33 balls, 3×4) helped lift the Chennai Super Kings to a respectable 164/3 in 20 overs after being 55 for 3 in 9.1 overs at one stage. The burly left-hander Mathew Hayden was dismissed in the fourth over by Ishant Sharma. New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who came in place of South African swing bowler Charl Langeveldt, was impressive in the first two overs. Laxmi Ratan Shukla castled Murali Vijay for 33 and when Suresh Raina yorked himself, Chennai Super Kings were in a spot of bother. But thereafter captain cool Dhoni and Badrinath repaired the damage with some sensible batting.

In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders had a nightmare start with Chennai’s Albie Morkel striking with with only the second ball of the first over to have opener Brad Hodge caught at mid-wicket for nought. Manpreet Gony then bowled Manoj Tiwary after the opener had hit two successive boundaries. Kolkata Knight Riders were 8 for 2 in 1.3 overs. Top scorer Wriddhiman Saha, dropped at two, cracked 13-ball 22 before being castled by Lakhsmipathy Balaji. The Chennai Super Kings medium-pacer took his second wicket when he had Owais Shah caught nicely by wicketkeeper captain MS Dhoni to reduce Kolkata Knight Riders to 46 for 4.  It was a one sided trek all uphill for the Kolkata Knight Riders from then as they lost their way and wickets at regular intervals. Justin Kemp then struck in succession to send back skipper Sourav Ganguly (11), Angelo Mathews and Rohan Gavaskar. The Kolkata Knight Riders were finally all out at 109 in 19.2 overs.

It was the first win for Chennai Super Kings who put a break on the Kolkata Knight Riders’ two match winning streak. At the end of the match eight, Delhi Daredevils were at the top of the league points table.

Match report courtesy Adfactors PR.