Watch Online Streaming Cricket Indian Premier League

Chennai Super Kings’ off-spin trio of Muttiah Muralitharan, R Ashwin and Suresh Raina out-thought Kings XI Punjab to win a low-scoring thriller to take the second place behind Delhi Daredevils on the table in the DLF Indian Premier League here on Wednesday. The trio had combined figures of six for 38 in 12 overs as their team successfully defended a total of 116.

The world’s most successful off-break bowler Muralitharan was magnificent as he returned a haul of two for eight in his four overs; the gangling Ashwin picked up two scalps for 13 while while the clever Raina added to the specialists’ efforts with two for 17, including the big wicket of Yuvraj Singh as they throttled Kings XI Punjab’s bid to win and enter the semifinals.

The 24-run defeat has all but sent Kings XI Punjab out of the race for a place in the last four as Deccan Challengers and Royal Challengers Bangalore can both join Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings in the semifinals. Deccan Challengers and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who play their last game on Thursday, and Kings XI Punjab have 14 points each but Yuvraj Singh’s team will be hurt by its lower net run rate than either of their rivals.

Some eyebrows were raised when Chennai Super Kings decided to rest Matthew Hayden and Albie Morkel, both nursing niggles. And some more eyebrows were raised as left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati was stood down for Ashwin. But it was clear that Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming wanted to challenge Kings XI Punjab with a diet of off-spin.

The plan worked to a nicety as Kings XI Punjab, loaded with left-handed batsmen, did not insure themselves against having to play 12 overs of off-spin by picking up quick runs against the new ball attack of Manpreet Singh Goni and Thilan Tushara. In fact, Parthiv Patel and George Bailey had done exactly that during their breezy 40-run stand for Chennai Super Kings.

In a must-win game for Kings XI Punjab, the bowlers had done exceedingly well to stop Chennai Super Kings from building a big total on the sluggish track after that blazing start by Patel and Bailey. Raina and Jacob Oram were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as the Kings XI Punjab fast bowlers claimed five wickets among themselves.