Chennai kick off IPL title defence with thrilling win

CHENNAI, April 8 (Reuters) - Chennai Super Kings kicked off their title defence with a thrilling two-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match of the fourth Indian Premier League on Friday.

After a prolonged conference with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and other senior team mates, Tim Southee rapped a yorker at Rajat Bhatia's pad, denying him the boundary off the last ball that the Knight Riders were seeking.

Chasing 154, the Kolkata outfit got off to a rollicking start provided by Jacques Kallis (54) and Manvinder Bisla (27) but losing Kallis, Eoin Morgan and skipper Gautam Gambhir in quick succession derailed their pursuit.

Manoj Tiwary's 15-ball 27 left them with nine runs to score off the last over with four wickets in hand but they managed only six to finish at 151-7.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings lost opener Murali Vijay in the first over but the right-left combination of Srikkanth Anirudha (64) and Suresh Raina (33) vindicated Dhoni's decision to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Kolkata could have seized the early initiative but for their sloppy fielding.

Yusuf Pathan dropped both Anirudha, son of former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, and Raina early in their innings and the team paid the price as the batsmen forged a 75-run stand.

Pathan then experienced what it feels to be let down by a fielding colleague when Morgan gave Anirudha a second reprieve off his bowling.

Dhoni chipped in with a 21-ball 29 and Albie Morkel hit compatriot Kallis for a six off the last ball of the innings to power the home team to 153-4.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)