CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings endured yet another disappointing outing as they posted a meagre 103 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs — a target that Kolkata Knight Riders chased down with ease. The defending champions needed just 61 balls to seal a comprehensive eight-wicket win, marking Chennai's fifth consecutive loss of the season. Despite the much-anticipated return of MS Dhoni as captain, CSK showed no signs of resurgence, faltering in both departments.

Score: Chennai Super Kings: 103-9 (20 overs)| Kolkata Knight Riders: 107-2 (10.1 overs)

Openers Sunil Narine (44 off 18) and Quinton de Kock (23 off 16) gave KKR a blazing start. The duo smashed eight sixes into the Chennai stands. Captain Ajinkya Rahane (20* off 17) and Rinku Singh (15* off 12) remained unbeaten to take the team home. For Chennai, bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Noor Ahmad picked up a wicket each.

Earlier, batting first, Chennai managed to cross the 100-run mark thanks to a last-wicket partnership of 24* runs between Shivam Dube and Anshul Kamboj. Dube remained not out on 31 and was the top scorer. Vijay Shankar contributed 29 off 21, while the rest of the batters struggled to score.

Openers Rachin Ravindra (4 off 9) and Devon Conway (12 off 11) fell early. Rahul Tripathi, who came in at No. 3, scored 16 off 22 balls, managing just a single boundary. Ravichandran Ashwin scored 1 (7), while Deepak Hooda, brought in as the impact sub, was dismissed for a duck after facing four balls. Ravindra Jadeja was also out for zero. MS Dhoni, coming in at No. 9, managed only 1 run from 4 balls. Noor Ahmad scored 1 off 8, and Anshul Kamboj remained unbeaten on 3 from 3. Chennai’s total barely crossed 100 thanks to Dube’s rescue act from 79-9.

For Kolkata, Sunil Narine took 3 wickets. Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana took 2 each, while Moeen Ali and Vaibhav Arora claimed a wicket apiece.