CSK beat KKR by 32 runs as Noor Ahmad stars

Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs in Match 22 of the Indian Premier League, with Noor Ahmad producing the standout spell of 3/21 from four overs to lock down the chase after CSK posted 192/5. His control through the middle overs, backed by brisk runs from Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, proved decisive.

This was CSK’s second win of the campaign sequence listed here after their 23-run victory in Match 18, and it kept their momentum going in a packed IPL schedule. The tournament had already seen Rajasthan Royals win three early matches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru collect three victories, and Sunrisers Hyderabad arrive on the back of a 57-run win in Match 21. With this being a league-stage fixture rather than a head-to-head series, the result extended CSK’s progress in the standings while KKR were left trying to regain ground before their next outing.

CSK’s 192/5 was built in sharp phases. Ruturaj Gaikwad fell early for 7 off 6, but Sanju Samson set the innings up with 48 from 32 balls, striking four fours and three sixes. He found lively support from Ayush Mhatre, whose 38 off just 17 balls gave the innings its first major burst; Mhatre hammered six fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 223.5 and again underlined why he has been one of the competition’s most explosive batters this season.

After that opening thrust, Dewald Brevis ensured there was no slowdown. Brevis made 41 from 29 deliveries, with four fours and two sixes, while Sarfaraz Khan added a useful 23 off 18. Even though Shivam Dube managed only 13 from 12 and Jamie Overton chipped in with 7 off 6, CSK had enough batting depth to keep the total climbing through the back end and finish with a score that always looked above par.

KKR’s bowlers had only brief moments of control. Sunil Narine was the most economical, returning 1/21 from four overs, and Anukul Roy also kept things relatively tight with 1/21 from three. Kartik Tyagi picked up 2/35 in his four overs, but Vaibhav Arora’s 1/55 and Cameron Green’s wicketless two-over spell costing 30 meant CSK were able to cash in whenever width or length went astray.

The chase never fully settled. Finn Allen fell for 1 from 3 balls, and although Sunil Narine counterpunched with 24 off 17, CSK kept interrupting KKR’s progress. Ajinkya Rahane made 28 from 22 balls and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 27 off 19, but neither innings turned into the anchoring knock KKR needed in pursuit of 193.

The match turned decisively in the middle overs. Rinku Singh scratched to 6 off 12, Cameron Green was dismissed for a first-ball duck, and Noor Ahmad’s spell squeezed the life out of the chase. The left-arm wristspinner finished with 3/21 from four overs, combining wicket-taking threat with excellent pace variation. Akeal Hosein supported smartly with 1/26 from four overs, while Anshul Kamboj struck twice for 2/32.

Rovman Powell kept KKR interested with 31 from 22 deliveries and Ramandeep Singh played an enterprising hand of 35 off 23, hitting four fours and a six, but the asking rate had climbed too sharply. Khaleel Ahmed’s 1/24 from 3.5 overs was important at the start and at the death, and KKR closed on 160/7 from their 20 overs, still 32 short.

Key performers

• Noor Ahmad (CSK): 3/21 in 4 overs, Player of the Match
• Sanju Samson (CSK): 48 off 32 balls
• Ayush Mhatre (CSK): 38 off 17 balls
• Dewald Brevis (CSK): 41 off 29 balls
• Ramandeep Singh (KKR): 35 off 23 balls
• Anshul Kamboj (CSK): 2/32 in 4 overs
• Sunil Narine (KKR): 1/21 in 4 overs and 24 off 17 balls

NerdSports Stat: CSK’s top three contributors of Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis scored 127 runs off 78 balls between them, while Noor Ahmad then gave away only 21 in 24 balls during the chase — a 106-run swing created by just four players.

From a tournament-form perspective, Mhatre came into this match with 341 runs at a strike rate of 174.9 in 10 matches and again delivered the sort of high-impact innings that can redefine a powerplay. Brevis, who had 225 runs at a strike rate of 180.0 in seven matches before this contest, continued his strong season too. For KKR, Rahane and Raghuvanshi arrived among their most reliable run-getters this season, but CSK prevented either from batting deep enough to control the chase.

There is little pause in the IPL calendar. Next up in the tournament is Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday, April 15. For these two sides, Kolkata Knight Riders next face Gujarat Titans on Friday, April 17, while Chennai Super Kings are due to meet Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, April 18 before another marquee clash against Mumbai Indians on April 23.

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