Chennai racked up this season’s highest total of 234-5.
Despite a blistering 61 off 26 by Jason Roy and a valiant half-century by Rinku Singh, Kolkata fell 49 runs short in front of 60,000 fans at a noisy Eden Gardens to suffer their fourth straight defeat.
Put in to bat, opener Devon Conway hit his fourth consecutive half-century before Rahane and Shivam Dube launched into the Kolkata attack with a barrage of 10 sixes and eight fours to put on 85 off just 32 balls.
Once Kulwant Khejroliya dismissed Dube in the 18th over Rahane moved up a gear, smashing 21 runs off the final five balls he faced to give Chennai their third-highest total in IPL history.
“I came into the season with a clear mind and trying to enjoy my batting,” Rahane said. “Playing with [Chennai captain] MS Dhoni, he makes you feel that you can achieve anything.”
Going..Going..GONE 💥
Which was your favourite shot from @ajinkyarahane88's magnificent knock tonight? #TATAIPL | #KKRvCSK pic.twitter.com/VLSa7XQ6NB
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2023
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Kolkata got off to a disastrous start, with Sunil Narine falling for a duck to Akash Singh and Narayan Jagadeesan back in the hutch for one to leave the hosts flailing on 1-2.
Venkatesh Iyer struck a useful 20 before falling lbw to Moeen Ali and Nitish Rana made 27 as Roy raced to his 50 accompanied by the dangerous Rinku.
6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣@JasonRoy20 has come out to bat with clear intentions 💥
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/j56FWB88GA #TATAIPL | #KKRvCSK pic.twitter.com/BlJtH7N4c4
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2023
But the English bruiser was out-foxed by Maheesh Theekshana and Rinku – who made 53* – lost partners, with Andre Russell, David Wiese, Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy all out cheaply.
Theekshana ended with 2-32 and Tushar Deshpande 2-43.
© Agence France-Presse
