Cricket news round-up – 10 April 2019: Chennai pip Kolkata in top-of-table clash

Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 wickets to reach the top of the points table in IPL 2019. Despite the win, the pitch took some flak from Chennai captain MS Dhoni.

In other news, BCCI has named Uppal, Hyderabad as the back-up venue for the IPL final in case Chepauk is not available; Mitchell Starc has filed an action against Lloyds; and Sussex signed a limited-overs-only contract with Luke Wright following his retirement from First-Class cricket.

Chahar strangles Kolkata

Kolkata Knight Riders could never recover from Deepak Chahar’s (4-0-20-3) triple blow at Chepauk. Their innings went downhill once Chahar reduced them to 9/3. The only resistance came from Andre Russell (50* in 44), who lifted Kolkata from 47/6, then 79/9, to 108/9. Harbhajan Singh took 2/15, Imran Tahir 2/21, and Ravindra Jadeja 1/17.

Sunil Narine (2/24) struck twice, but though Chennai were 35/2, they were not affected. Faf du Plessis (43* in 45) batted through the innings, and Chennai Super Kings won with 16 balls in hand.

Chennai are now at the top of the table, followed by Kolkata.

Dhoni criticises Chennai pitch

Chennai captain MS Dhoni was not too happy about the Chepauk pitch despite his side’s comfortable win.

“It looks a good wicket to us, but I don’t think we want to play on wickets like these because it becomes too low-scoring and it becomes slightly difficult for our batters to get going. And also what happens is that it’s slightly more difficult if you’re batting first. As the dew comes in, it becomes slightly easier in the second half,” Dhoni explained at the post-match presentation.

Starc files lawsuit

Mitchell Starc had signed an insurance policy at Lloyds for his IPL stint for Kolkata Knight Riders, in 2018. Starc missed the edition due to a stress fracture, but Lloyds did not pay him the assured AUD 1.8 million.

Following some email correspondence, Starc has now filed a case against a syndicate of Lloyds at the Victorian County Court.

Hyderabad may host IPL final

Three stands at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk – I, J, and K, which can hold 12 thousand people between them – have remained closed to the public since 2012. BCCI has now issued a warning to Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, who have a week to respond on how to resolve the issue.

BCCI have named Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad as back-up venue for Qualifier 1 and the final.

Sussex sign Luke Wright

Luke Wright, who had led Sussex from 2015 to 2017, has retired from First-Class cricket after not being selected for Sussex’s opening match of the 2018 County Championship. However, Wright will continue to play 50-over and 20-over cricket for them.