The Chennai Super Kings inched closer to their semi final space with a two-run victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, according to the Duckworth Lewis method in the Indian Premier League match in Kolkata on Sunday, May 18, 2008.

Because of the hat-trick of pace bowler Makhaya Ntini, the Kolkata Knight Riders were limited to a very modest title of 149 runs for the loss of five wickets. However, the Chennai team was 55 without the loss of any wickets when a sudden burst of wind resulted in some of the bulbs in each of the light towers blowing off at the Eden Gardens. As a result, the play was immediately stopped, but the situation turned worse as high wind coupled with rains, tossed the sheets in the air which were used to cover the wicket and the outfield.

It was then that the Duckworth Lewis method was used and the concerned authorities declared the Chennai Super Kings the winner by two runs after waiting for about 90 minutes for the weather to improve. The Kolkata Riders were 46 for the loss of two wickets after eight overs, but Chennai needed to make just 53 runs without losing any wicket for victory. In the end however, a boundary by Stephen Fleming (32 not out), with a fine leg glance on the last delivery off Agarkar proved very crucial for the Chennai team. The Chennai Super Kings now have 12 points from 11 matches and look very well settled to make it to the top four.

A ball before, Ashok Dinda had failed to catch Parthiv Patel (19 not out) at the long off. The Kolkata team is now looking quite hopeless as their chances of making to the last four look quite dim. Earlier, South Africa's Ntini came up with a fine hat-trick to restrict the Knight Riders. The 30- year old paceman got rid of the Kolkata skipper Ganguly with the last ball of his third over, before he was taken off the attack.

Later, Ntini came back in the 17th over and immediately struck a double blow, by sending Dababrata Das (27) and David Hussey (0) to the pavilion with his first two balls, to complete the hat-trick. He later finished his spell with impressive figures of 4-0-21-4. For the Kolkata team, Pakistan left handler Salman Butt (73) held onto the innings after the hosts lost two quick wickets. He steadied the innings by putting 86 runs for the third wicket with Debabrata Das.

Brief Scores

Kolkata Knight Riders: 149/5 in 20 overs
Chennai Super Kings: 55/0 in 8 overs
Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 2 runs according to Duckworth Lewis method
Man of the Match: M.Ntini (Chennai Super Kings)