Indian Premier League: Ravindra Jadeja powers Chennai Super Kings past Kolkata Knight Riders

The left-arm all-rounder takes three wickets and a 14-ball cameo of 36 propels the team past the winning post in low-scoring clash.

Toss Kolkata, chose to bat
Kolkata Gambhir 25, Y Pathan 25; Jadeja 3-20, Bravo 2-21
Chennai Hussey 40, Jadeja ; Senanayake 1-18, Narine 1-20
Man of the match Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai)

Low-scoring totals have not necessarily meant cakewalks for the chasing teams this season in the Indian Premier League.

Chennai Super Kings made heavy weather of a 120-run target against Kolkata Knight Riders before hard-hitting Michael Hussey at the top and an all-round show by man-of-the-match Ravindra Jadeja completed another rescue act in the clash of last year's finalists.

Jadeja took three wickets for the visitors when Kolkata chose to bat at Eden Gardens and then guided Chennai home with lusty blows in a 14-ball 36-run knock.

When Jadeja came in to bat, Chennai were 71 for five and the required run-rate touching 10 runs per over, but the left-handed all-rounder smashed away to the winning post.

Kolkata captain Gautam Gambhir, once a short-term deputy to the wily MS Dhoni in the India national team, set off with the right intent by out-thinking the opposition and moving the out-of-form but dangerous Yusuf Pathan to partner him as opener.

The ploy seemed to work with both setting a nice pace knocking up 46 runs in quick time before Gambhir fell in the sixth over. But the innings unravelled after that immediately with Jacques Kallis run out before even facing a ball.

Eoin Morgan was caught in the next over and two balls later Pathan was also run out. The innings fell apart as Kolkata folded for 119 for nine, adding to the uncertainty that comes with the format.

Chennai also have made it a habit of sweating their way through the recent matches but managed to stay on the winning side today.

Both captains raised concerns about batting in the post-match presentation with Gambhir calling his team's effort riled with 'schoolboy errors'. "We have not been batting well as a unit and I think the guys need to pull up their socks," Gambhir said. the Kolkata captain said.

"We just not been professional enough. There some schoolboy errors. We need to put runs for our bowlers to defend."

His counterpart Dhoni said, "It [batting] is one area we need to be more consistent. They were ahead of us in the first six overs but some wickets and the run-outs helped us thankfully.

Of his match-winner, the captain added, "Ravindra is improving by the day and not just here but in Indian side. I think he is having with the fun we are having by calling him 'Sir' Ravindra. And we are looking forward to seeing more from him."

Jadeja, on his part, showed his maturity explaining his three-wicket haul. "The ball was not coming nicely onto the bat so when I was bowling I decided to put the ball more through the air."

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