Bravo and Super Kings go top after trouncing Knight Riders

CHENNAI, India,  CMC – Dwayne Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings outlasted Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders, to jump to the top of the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Sent in, Super Kings piled up 200 for three at MA Chidambaram Stadium and then superbly defended, restricting Knight Riders to 186 for four, to win by 14 runs.

They lead the standings with 14 points from nine matches, with Chris Gayle’s Royal Challengers Bangalore two points back in second.

Knight Riders, the defending champions, lie sixth in the eight-team standings with just six points.

Narine, the mystery West Indies off-spinner, could do little as Australian Mike Hussey slammed 95 from 59 balls to propel Super Kings, while Suresh Raina added 44 from 25 balls.

The Trinidadian eventually claimed Hussey to a catch in the deep in the 16th over, to finish with one for 35 from his four overs.

In reply, Knight Riders got 93 off 61 deliveries from opener Manvinder Bisla and a breezy unbeaten 32 off 22 balls from Eoin Morgan, but fell short in the end.

Bravo, Narine’s Trinidad and West Indies teammate, earned one for 37 from his four overs of medium pace.