Chennai/IBNS: Keeping their faint hope to qualify for the playoffs, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched a six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on a tricky pitch in the 61st match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 here on Sunday.

Chasing 145 on a difficult track, KKR lost early wickets in the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4), Venkatesh Iyer (21) and Jason Roy (33) that too within the powerplay overs.

Just when CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was eyeing to choke the visitors' batting, a clinical partnership of 99 runs by KKR captain Nitish Rana (57 not out off 44 balls) and star batter Rinku Singh (54 off 43 balls) upset the hosts.

Though Rinku was dismissed in a run out in the 18th over, the match was almost under control of KKR, who ended at 147/4 in 18.3 overs, by then.

CSK 144/6 in 20 overs

A fine unbeaten 48 not out by southpaw Shivam Dube helped home favourites CSK to 144 for 6 against KKR in the tense IPL match.

On a slow wicket offered turn and bounce, CSK, batting first on winning the toss, started off prosmingly scoring 52 for 1 in the power play, before the KKR spinners applied the brakes to restrict the home team, playing its last home match, to a total, that could well be defended enhancing the CSK's chances of qualifying for the play off.

Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (17, 13 balls, 2x4) and left hander Devon Conway (30, 28 balls, 3x4) added 31 in 3.3 overs,. before Ajinkya Rahane and Conway added another 30 runs for second wicket as CSK were well placed at 61 or two in eight overs.

Thereafter, the runs and boundaries dried out as spinners came into the party, choking the run flow as CSK middle order lost the way and were reduced to72 for 5 by the 11th over.

KKR spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine used the conditions well picking up two wickets each, before Dube and Ravindjra Jadeja, who anchored the innings with a 24-ball 20 and Dube (48 not out, 34 balls, 1x4, 3x6) held the innings together adding a crucial 68 runs for the sixth wicket in 8.4 overs.

The exit of Jadeja in the final over, brought CSK skipper Dhoni into the crease amid rousing cheers from the packed stadium, but he finished with just two in three balls, as CSK finished with 144 for six which seemed to be a tight target for KKR.

This target was mainly possible as Jadeja and Dube rotated the strike as the stroke making was difficult and boundaries were at a premium on a slow wicket.

The pressure applied by the KKR bowlers turned out to be the key as CSK scored 52 for 1 in the power play as the next nine overs fetched just 40 overs.

Thanks to Dube and Jadeja, CSK scored 52 in the last five overs to guide the team to a total that could be a tricky target for the vistors.