Dre-Russ dominant but Chennai go top

Big-hitting Jamaican Andre Russell made another half-century but his rescue act proved in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to a seven-wicket IPL hammering against the Chennai Super Kings.

The much-anticipated top-of-the-table clash failed to ignite as the visiting side struggled from the opening over.

Queenslander Chris Lynn was trapped lbw by Deepak Chahar for a duck and his departure led to a top-order collapse as the Knight Riders were reduced to 6-47 before a battling unbeaten half-century by Russell helped his side limp to 9-108.

Russell came to the crease 5-44 and proceeded to score 50 of Kolkata's remaining 64 runs, including a 29-run stand for the final wicket with Harry Gurney, who made one.

The West Indies allrounder hit three sixes and five fours, and took his tournament runs tally to 257, behind only Sunrisers opening pair David Warner (349) and Jonny Bairstow (263).

Attached to those runs are some mind-boggling numbers: an average of 128.50, a strike-rate of 212.39, and a remarkable 25 sixes – 13 clear of his nearest rival.

Former Australia Test allrounder Shane Watson got the Super Kings off to a brisk reply in clubbing 17 from nine balls before smashing Sunil Narine to Piyush Chawla at mid-wicket.

But South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis' calm 45 not out at just over a run a ball steered the Super Kings to an emphatic victory with 16 balls to spare, consolidating their lead at the top.