Noor Ahmad’s recent dip in touch didn’t stop Chennai Super Kings from backing their left-arm wrist-spinner, and the Afghan international repaid that faith with a decisive spell at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday. Facing a fragile Kolkata Knight Riders side, CSK produced a clinical all-round showing to secure their second straight win. Set 193 to win on a surface that held on to the ball for a moment, the chase looked manageable early, but KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane couldn’t build a long innings before the game slipped away quickly.
Key takeaways
- Noor Ahmad delivered figures of 3 for 21 to help CSK regain control during KKR’s chase.
- CSK won both Powerplays, using early breakthroughs and pressure to shape the match.
- Rahane made 28 off 22 balls before being caught at mid-off as the collapse began.
- CSK posted 192 for 5 while chasing 193, with Sanju Samson (48 off 32) and Ayush Mhatre (38 off 17) providing the thrust.
- KKR’s chase never stabilized after being reduced to 36 for 2 within six overs.
- Even late resistance from Rovman Powell and Ramandeep Singh couldn’t change the outcome, with KKR losing by 32 runs.
Noor’s spell breaks the chase
Chasing 193, KKR were in the hunt with Rahane looking to anchor the innings and push the total deeper. Rahane is typically effective against spin, but on this occasion he couldn’t get past the infield. His stay ended when he was caught at mid-off, triggering a quick turn in momentum.
Noor Ahmad then removed Cameron Green, who appeared off-colour and unsure of how the ball was behaving. The breakthrough came immediately after Rahane’s dismissal, and it set the tone for what followed. In his next over, Noor struck again by getting “finisher” Rinku Singh caught in the deep, effectively ending the contest in CSK’s favour.
By that stage, KKR’s remaining batters attempted to salvage the finish. Rovman Powell and Ramandeep Singh tried to push the scoring pace late on, but their efforts were mainly aimed at reducing the damage. The final margin stood at 32 runs, leaving KKR to rue a chase that was already derailed well before the end.
CSK’s batting and the Powerplay advantage
While Noor’s impact was central, CSK also engineered the match through strong Powerplay performances. With the bat, they built momentum early and ensured the target of 193 felt like a steep ask on a pitch where the ball was stopping a fraction more than expected.
Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre played key roles in setting up CSK’s platform, helping the team reach 192 for 5. Samson’s innings featured a rapid sequence of boundaries, including a hat-trick of fours off medium-pacer Vaibhav Arora. Alongside him, Mhatre produced the standout knock of the day, striking 38 off just 17 balls, which significantly accelerated CSK’s progress during the innings.
Green, once he returned to the bowling, was hit hard by the CSK batting. In one over, Mhatre punished him for 21 runs, and he followed that with three consecutive boundaries off Vaibhav Arora. Although Mhatre was eventually dismissed by Vaibhav, the damage had already been done—CSK had moved beyond the point where KKR could comfortably recover.
KKR stumble early with the ball
CSK’s Powerplay dominance wasn’t limited to batting—KKR also struggled to execute in their bowling phase. The opening overs saw the ball move slightly, and Khaleel Ahmed together with Anshul Kamboj ensured the new pairing struggled to settle.
Sunil Narine and Finn Allen were both unable to get going. Allen fell to Kamboj, and shortly after, Khaleel struck to remove Narine. The result was a rapid early setback: KKR were reduced to 36 for 2 in six overs, giving CSK a platform to press on.
Rahane did manage a brief attempt to slow the momentum by taking Gurjapneet Singh for 19 in a single over. However, the improvement was only momentary, as the chase continued to lack stability after the early blows and the later wickets, culminating in Noor’s decisive intervention.
