Noor Ahmad shapes CSK chase

Noor Ahmad turned Kolkata Knight Riders’ chase on April 14, taking 3 for 21 as Chennai Super Kings defended 192 for 5 and won by 32 runs in Chennai. (iplt20.com) Chennai’s innings was built by Sanju Samson’s 48 off 32, Ayush Mhatre’s 38 off 17 and Dewald Brevis’ 41 off 29, with the side reaching 72 in the powerplay and finishing at 9.60 runs an over. (espncricinfo.com) Kolkata were 79 for 3 in the 10th over before Noor removed Ajinkya Rahane for 28 off 22, then bowled Cameron Green first ball in the same over and later dismissed Rinku Singh for 6 off 12. (cricbuzz.com) That burst turned a chase of 193 into a stall: Kolkata managed only 160 for 7, after scoring 36 in the powerplay and losing three wickets for 11 runs between 79 for 3 and 90 for 6. (espncricinfo.com) The result gave Chennai consecutive wins for the first time in two years, according to the league’s match report, and lifted a side that had started the season needing momentum. Kolkata stayed winless after four matches, with one no-result. (iplt20.com) Rahane’s innings sat at a strike rate of 127.27, slower than the asking rate for much of the chase, while Rinku’s 6 off 12 added to the squeeze once Chennai’s spinners took over. (cricbuzz.com) Chennai spread the bowling load around Noor’s spell. Khaleel Ahmed took Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein removed Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Anshul Kamboj finished with 2 for 32, including the wicket of Ramandeep Singh in the 20th over. (espncricinfo.com) Kolkata’s bowlers had kept parts of the game under control through Sunil Narine’s 1 for 21 in four overs and Kartik Tyagi’s 2 for 35, but Chennai’s top order had already pushed the total close to 200. (espncricinfo.com) By the end, the chase was defined less by one big partnership than by the middle-order freeze after Noor’s double strike, with Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 31 and Ramandeep’s 35 arriving after the target had largely slipped away. (cricbuzz.com)