Press Trust of India
Mumbai, April 17: A brilliant Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made a mockery of Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling by beating them six wickets to snatch third consecutive win here at the Wankhede Stadium Friday.
Looking to finish the game quickly, CSK openers Dwayne Smith (62, 30b, 8×4, 4×6) and Brendon McCullum (46, 20b, 6×4, 2×6) started in a fiery mood. They took 21 in the 4th over off Lasith Malinga and punished Harbhajan Singh (2/44) in the very next over for 22. The duo added 90 runs in the powerplay over to secure a commanding position for CSK in the match.
However, MI spinner Harbhajan Singh struck twice in the eighth over to return the two openers in the pavilion. McCullum tried a maximum over the long-off but fail short of the distance as Vinay Kumar took an easy catch to depart the Kiwi captain. Four balls later, Smith followed McCullum when his mistimed shot was taken by MI skipper Rohit Sharma at the mid-wicket.
But that seemed a little loss for the triumphant CSK after Suresh Raina (43, 29b, 4×4, 2×6) took the match out of Mumbai’s hand comfortably with his variation of shots all over the ground.
Earlier, opting to bat first, Kieron Pollard blasted a 30-ball 64 (4×4, 5×6) to recover Mumbai Indians (MI) from a precarious start to post a commanding score of 183 for the loss of seven wickets. Pollard was equally supported by MI skipper Rohit Sharma (50, 31b, 5×4, 1×6) and brilliant cameos from Harbhajan Singh (24, 21b, 2×4, 1×6) and Ambati Rayudu (29, 16b, 1×4, 3×6).
But the start was not as good as expected for Mumbai as they were reduced to 12 for three in the fourth over of the match. Man of the match Ashish Nehra (3/23) was once more in the thick of actions as he destroyed the top order with some incisive pace and swing. He struck with the fourth ball of the game catching Parthiv Patel plum in front with a ball that straightened off the seam. In the third over, he struck again as Corey Anderson, promoted up the batting order holed out to Faf du Plesiss trying to go for a slog over mid-wicket.
When MI was struggling at 12 for the loss of three wickets, Rohit along with Harbhajan started the revival. The two put on 45 runs for the fourth wicket mixing caution with aggression. Both ran between the wickets astutely and were prompt enough to punish the loose ball.
It was completely a Pollar show thereafter. The West Indian along with skipper Rohit put on 75 runs for the fifth wicket in only 33 balls to put MI in a commanding position. After the dismissal of RohitRayudu came on to the scene. He batted with freedom as Pollard once more started to hit to all parts of the ground. But Rayudu was not left far behind. In the 18th over of the innings, he hit Mohit for two huge sixes to take MI past the 160-run mark — a feat that had been unthinkable at the start of the innings.
MI have now lost four matches on the trot and will be placed bottom of the table with a disgraceful run-rate.
