Rahane, Dube, Conway Storm vs KKR; CSK Post Highest Total at Eden Gardens
Only Chennai Super Kings can push the likes of Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube not just to score 235 runs but demolish Kolkata's bowling at the Eden Gardens. Apart from the coin falling in Nitish Rana's way, nothing has gone his way in the clash thus far.
Conway and Gaikwad gave the Super Kings an electrifying start, motoring the opening stand for 73 runs before the latter got a brilliant googly from Suyash Sharma in the 8th over. The Knight Riders got a ray of hope to cross the tunnel, but then they collided with a force named Ajinkya Rahane.
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Rahane, in CSK colours, is just a different gravy. Prominently known to be a reserve batter, the Test specialist has had his leash broken this season. He finished off his Sunday's knock at 71* off just 29, spanking all the bowlers in all regions of the park, hitting six boundaries and five maximums in his extravaganza.
However, the night at Eden wasn't just about Rahane's sheer brilliance but how he united with Conway and Dube. The Kiwi, too, hit a half-century at a brisk rate, and when he was going, he was looking the most pleasing thing in yellow. But, alas, his night was cut short by Varun Chakravarthy.
CSK, then, had Dube in the middle. Alongside Rahane, Dube thwacked 85 runs for the third wicket off just 34 deliveries. And the left-handed big-hitting was the aggressor between the two bullet trains. During his blistering knock, he smashed two fours and five mighty hits to complete a 50 off just 20 balls before mistiming Kulwant Khejroliya in the deep.
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After that, Ravi Jadeja came to the crease to play an igniting cameo - an 8-ball 18, where he smashed as many as two biggies. In the end, the Kolkata crowd got the chance to watch everyone's beloved MS Dhoni bat, but just for 3 deliveries.
Thanks to all these contributions, CSK reached 235-4 against KKR at Eden Gardens - the highest score any team put up at the venue.
 "Arjun Bhalla")
