CHENNAI, April 6: Led by seasoned Harbhajan Singh, Chennai Super Kings spinners put on a dominating show to help the side reclaim the top position with a 22-run win over Kings XI Punjab in an IPL match, here on Saturday.
Defending 160 for three, CSK restricted Punjab to 138 for 5 despite half centuries from KL Rahul (55) and Sarfaraz Khan (67).
The visitors scored at a low pace and required to score 26 off the last over, bowled by IPL debutant Scott Kuggeleijn. The Kiwi paceman had no trouble defending those runs and also dismissed Sarfaraz.
Harbhajan was the best bowler for the hosts with the figures of 4-1-17-2. In a brilliant spell, he bowled a maiden and grabbed two wickets, including that of the �universal boss� Chris Gayle.
Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-24-0) and Imran Tahir (4-0-20-0) also helped CSK put the brakes on the rival batsmen. They, along with Harbhajan, conceded only 61 runs in 12 overs even as the required run-rate kept mounting.
Kuggeleijn did not start very well, being hit for a six off his very first ball, but did well to finish with 2 for 37 in his 4 overs.
Harbhajan struck a huge blow to rivals by dismissing Gayle, having him caught behind by MS Dhoni for 5 in the second over.
SCORECARD
Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson c Curran b R Ashwin 26, F du Plessis c Miller b R Ashwin 54, Suresh Raina b R Ashwin 17, Mahendra Singh Dhoni not out 37, Ambati Rayudu not out 21. Extras: (W-5) 5. Total: (for 3 wickets in 20 overs) 160. Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-100, 3-100. Bowling: Mohammed Shami 4-0-41-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-23-3, Sam Curran 4-0-35-0, Andrew Tye 4-0-38-0, Murugan Ashwin 4-0-23-0.
Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul c Jadeja b Kuggeleijn 55, Chris Gayle c Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh 5, Mayank Agarwal c du Plessis b Harbhajan Singh 0, Sarfaraz Khan c du Plessis b Kuggeleijn 67, David Miller b Chahar 6, Mandeep Singh not out 1, Sam Curran not out 0. Extras: (NB-2, W-2) 4. Total: (for 5 wickets in 20 overs) 138. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-7, 3-117, 4-135, 5-137. Bowling: Deepak Chahar 4-0-40-1, Harbhajan Singh 4-1-17-2, Scott Kuggeleijn 4-0-37-2, Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-24-0, Imran Tahir 4-0-20-0. � PTI
