3 Epic Clashes between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens

#1 Bravo’s last ball Six wins the game for CSK – 2012

This has to be the best and the most memorable encounter between the two great sides. Put into bat first, skipper Gautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum got the team to a blazing start. The pair put on a 99 run partnership for the first wicket before McCullum was run-out for 37.

Gautam Gambhir kept hitting the bowlers as he raced away to another IPL fifty. His knock of 62 off 43 balls comprised of 6 boundaries and 3 maximums. He was bowled off the bowling of Shadab Jakati in the 13th over. At this juncture, KKR were 100-2 and looked well on their way to a score of above 180.

However, some tight bowling by CSK’s spinners pegged the scoring run-rate and brought them back into the game. Jakati picked up 2 wickets in his 4 overs while Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared one wicket apiece.

KKR ended up with 158/6 in their allocated 20 overs, with Gautam Gambhir being the top scorer with 62.

In reply, Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay attacked the KKR bowlers right from the word go. The left and right-handed combination was an added advantage as both the openers smashed the KKR bowlers all over the park. At the halfway mark, CSK were 96/0 with a mere 63 to win off 60 balls.

However, the introduction of Sunil Narine bought Kolkata Knight Riders back into the game. Narine first dismissed Michael Hussey (56), who was caught at short third-man trying to sweep a full-length delivery. He then followed it up by removing Vijay for 36 as the batsman tried to cut one that spun sharply into the stumps.

KKR further clawed back into the game by removing Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis and soon, CSK were reduced to 127-4 with 32 required off 17 balls. M.S Dhoni struck few lusty blows to bring the target to 9 runs off the last over.

The last over was handed over to Rajat Bhatia and what followed was an absolute dramatic finish.

A single was scored off the first ball of the over by Bravo. M.S Dhoni was dismissed on the second ball of the over trying to heave one over the midwicket region.

The new batsman Jadeja picked up a couple of runs of the next two deliveries and the strike was back with Bravo.

5 runs were required of the last 2 balls.

Bravo couldn’t score a run of the fifth ball trying to slog a slower delivery as he missed it altogether.

With 5 runs required off the last ball, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir spread out the field. Rajat Bhatia ran into bowl and bowled a knee-high full toss to which Bravo, who swung hard and cleared the long-on boundary to register a famous victory for CSK at the iconic Eden Gardens.

Gautam Gambhir was in disbelief and so was the crowd as Bravo showed his magic off the last ball of the match. The entire CSK brigade ran on to the field to congratulate the West Indian for his heroics. The win meant that CSK were well in contention for a play-off spot in the fifth edition of Indian Premier League.

CSK won the game by five wickets and for his effort with the bat that set up the chase, Hussey was awarded the Man of the Match.