CHENNAI, India (CMC):

Impressive death bowling by West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo stifled an easy run chase and fired Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a close two-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

Bravo grabbed three wickets for 22 runs from three overs, which restricted KKK to 132 for nine in 20 overs after aggressive bowling from fellow West Indian André Russell helped to restrict CSK to a paltry 134.

Another West Indian, Dwayne Smith, hit 25 from 19 balls, the second highest score for CSK in the low-scoring encounter at the M Chinaswamy stadium at Chennai.

Faf du Plessis was not out on a top score of 29 on a pitch that did not allow for free scoring with the exception of Smith who counted three fours and a six, Brandon McCullum who scored 19 and for the opposition Robin Uthappa 39 and Ryan ten Doeschate 38 not out.

Russell, who was run out for four during the chase, finished with two for 26 from four overs, removing the wickets of Suresh Raina for 17 and Ms Dhoni for three.

Positive start

KKR started off quite positively despite Gautam Gambhir's early wicket as Robin Uthappa took the attack to the bowlers smashing 39 off 16.

However, things turned drastically after he was dismissed and no other batsman managed to put up a fight.

KKK played without their front-line bowler, West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, who is undergoing a new round of tests of his bowling action.