Brevis blitz dims Kolkata’s IPL playoff hopes

SOUTH Africa’s Dewald Brevis hit a 22-ball half-century as Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets on Wednesday night, leaving the defending IPL champions in grave danger of missing the playoffs.

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Chasing 180 for victory, Chennai slipped to 60/5 in the sixth over before Brevis hit 52 and impact substitute Shivam Dube made 45 to steer the team home with two balls to spare at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

Skipper MS Dhoni hit a six when Chennai needed eight off the last over and finished unbeaten on 17, with No 10 Anshul Kamboj hitting the winning four off Andre Russell.

The result left Kolkata’s chances of making the playoffs hanging by a thread as they need to win their remaining two matches and hope other results go their way.

“Tt was really tough,” Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane said of the defeat.

“We were 10-15 short... 185-195 would have been an ideal total. The bowlers bowled really well but tough to be on the losing side.”

On the way forward, Rahane said: “Pretty simple. Try to win two out of two, and then see what happens from there.”

Five-time champions Chennai had already bowed out of the playoff race.