Chennai Super Kings clinched a thrilling two-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of the fourth edition of the IPL on Friday.

Kiwi bowler Tim Southee helped the Chennai Super Kings to a tense victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in Friday’s Indian Premier League opener.

Chennai laboured as opener Murali Vijay fell early and a lack of adventure hampered their progress to an eventual 153 for four.

Kolkata began conservatively themselves but came on strong and looked to be clinching a dramatic victory until Southee’s heroic final over with the ball saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side inch home by two runs.

After winning the toss, Dhoni’s side began uneasily. Vijay went before Yusuf Pathan dropped two startling opportunities to dismiss Srikkanth Anirudha and Suresh Raina.

Anirudha smashed three fours off Jacques Kallis in the sixth over before Raina fell on 33 in the 11th over to bring in Dhoni.

The World Cup winning India captain (29) helped add some runs before falling to a Kallis slow bouncer in the 18th over which he top-edged for Manvinder Bisla to take.

Anirudha (64) followed him soon after - Kallis again the man with the breakthrough - before the Super Kings belatedly looked to pile on the runs before finishing on 153.

Kolkata’s response started brightly as Morne Morkel conceded 10 to Bisla and Kallis but the rate slowed before Bisla fell in the ninth over.

Yusuf was stumped by Dhoni and Manoj Tiwary headed to the middle with England’s Eoin Morgan left waiting. The Irishman was called upon when Kallis’ knock was ended on 54, caught by Subramaniam Badrinath off Ravi Ashwin.

Morgan (six) managed a boundary before falling to Raina and when Gautam Gambhir finally emerged, he managed only one before being run out.

A big 19th over ended with Tiwary falling and when Dhoni gave Southee the ball with the visitors needing nine from six, the Kiwi bowler delivered by seeing off Laxmi Shukla and restricting the Knight Riders to six from the final over.