3 Epic Clashes between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens

#2 Jadeja’s all-round performance help CSK win in a low scoring thriller – 2013

Electing to bat first on a slow pitch at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata’s openers Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan got the team off to a good start. The pair added 46 runs for the 1st wicket before Gambhir was caught by Michael Hussey at the third man region. KKR kept lost their wickets at regular intervals and soon they were reduced to 55-4 by the end of 8 overs.

Debabrata Das and Manoj Tiwary added 27 runs for the 5th wicket but it was too little too less as both the batsman were dismissed in quick session and soon KKR were in serious trouble at 6-89 in 14.1 overs.

Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja made full use of the slow pitch at the Eden Gardens and both the spinners shared 5 wickets among them. In the end, KKR reached a modest total of 119/9 in their allocated 20 overs.

Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers with 3-20 in his 4 overs, followed by Ashwin with 2-21 in 4 overs.

Chasing 120 to win, Ashwin was promoted as an opening batsman to partner Michael Hussey. In his brief stay at the crease, Ashwin scored 2 boundaries before handing over a catch to mid-wicket off the bowling of Sachitra Senanayake. This wicket triggered a mini collapse as Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina were dismissed in quick succession by the KKR spinners.

At 54-3 MS Dhoni was run out after a direct hit from Eoin Morgan, who charged in from the extra cover region to hit at the stumps.

Hussey kept CSK in the hunt by rotating the strike and not taking any chances against the KKR spinners. However, his vigil ended after he handed over a catch to square-leg off the bowling of Lakshmipathy Balaji for a gritty 40 of 51 balls.

With 31 to win off 3 overs and the game in the balance, Jadeja showed his prowess with the bat as he started smashing the spinners by hitting them straight down the ground. His quick fire 36 off 14 balls took CSK home with 5 balls to spare.

CSK won the game by 4 wickets and for his all-round effort with both bat and ball, Ravindra Jadeja was awarded the Man of the Match.