Chennai Super Kings have eased to a seven-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in the IPL.
Despite heading into the game at the top of the standings, only a two-point margin separated Chennai and sixth-placed Rajasthan Royals, and they soon signalled their intent on extending their advantage by reducing their opponents to 35-3.
That soon became 55-5 as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja struck with a wicket apiece, and although Axar Patel and Rishi Dhawan offered some resistance at the end of the innings, Kings could only register a score of 130-7 off their 20 overs.
Chennai would have expected to reach their target with ease, but they were stunned at the start of their reply as Mike Hussey and Brendon McCullum departed in the opening two overs.
However, Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina joined forces to steady the ship before they put together a 92-run stand over 11 overs to take the game away from their opponents.
Du Plessis eventually went for 55, but Raina pressed on to end unbeaten on 41 as MS Dhoni fired successive sixes to complete an innings of 25 and seal the win with 19 balls remaining.
Darren Plant
