Russell ineffectual in CSK win

CHENNAI, India (CMC):

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell had very little impact, but his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) still did enough to pull off a 10-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game of the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Playing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, CSK piled up 187 for six off their 20 overs after they were sent in, with Russell managing only five, batting at number four.

However, Nitish Rana blasted 80 from 56 deliveries at the top of the order, posting 53 for the first wicket with Shubman Gill (15) before adding a sensational 93 for the second wicket with Rahul Tripathi, who belted a 29-ball 53.

Nitish counted nine fours and four sixes and Tripathi five fours and two sixes before perishing in the 16th over to a catch at the wicket off left-arm seamer Thangarasu Natarajan.

His dismissal brought Russell to the crease, but his appearance was short-lived, the right-hander striking a four in his five-ball stay before holing out low to long on’s left off leg-spinner Rashid Khan at 157 for three.

Nitish was one of two wickets to fall in the 18th over with three runs added, taken at long off off off-spinner Mohammad Nabi (2-32).

Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik then provided a flourish at the end with an exciting nine-ball 22 not out.

In reply, Sunrisers slumped to 10 for two in the third over before Manish Pandey, with 61 not out off 44 balls, and Jonny Bairstow, with a 40-ball 55, rescued the run chase in a 92-run third-wicket partnership.

Pandey punched two fours and three sixes and Bairstow struck five fours and three sixes before falling at the end of the 13th over to a catch at backward point off fast bowler Pat Cummins.

Sunrisers, without powerful West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, did not find the acceleration necessary and came up short after needing 22 from the final over.

Medium pacer Russell got the wicket of Vijay Shankar for 11 in the 18th over to finish with one for 32 from his three overs.