Mumbai fires in Pune
After restricting CSK, who were marching towards a big total, Mumbai Indians batsmen also pulled up their socks and put in a disciplined show. This all-round effort gave Mumbai Indians a muchneeded win as they cruised to an 8-wicket win with 2 balls to spare, over table-toppers Chennai Super Kings. Mitchell McClenaghan (4-026-2) and Krunal Pandya (4-032-2) were stars in the bowling department for Mumbai. While chasing the 170-run target, Mumbai’s openers Suryakumar Yadav (44) and Evin Lewis (47) played their part to perfection. But requiring 42 runs of last four overs, and 22 of last two, skipper Rohit Sharma (56 of 33 balls) kept his cool hitting four boundaries in the 19th over and brought the equation down to five runs off six balls to script the win.
Earlier, Suresh Raina smashed his way to an unbeaten 75 as Chennai Super Kings produced a disciplined batting effort to post a competitive 169-5 against Mumbai Indians in their IPL fixture here.
Raina (75 off 47 balls), who had missed a couple of matches due to a calf injury, hit the fences six times and blasted four sixes in his unconquered innings after Ambati Rayudu (46 off 35 balls) continued his impressive run and set the foundation for Chennai at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also chipped in with 26 off 21 balls which was studded three boundaries and a six but Mumbai Indians bowled well in the death overs to restrict them within 170 in the end.
Mitchell McClenaghan (2/26) and Krunal Pandya (2/32) were the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai, while Hardik Pandya (1/39) also scalped one wicket.
Put into bat, Ambati Rayudu gave a flying start to Chennai after opening his innings with a six off McClenaghan in the third ball. His partner Shane Watson, however, couldn’t stay long as his attemped slog sweep off spinner Krunal landed on the safe hands of Mayank Markande at square leg.
Raina then joined Rayudu and the duo blasted a six each to accumate 15 runs off the over as CSK scored 39-1 in 5 overs. The Mumbaikar then sent the ball soaring over the ropes and hit a four to take his team across the 50-mark in the powerplay overs.
Raina sent Krunal across the ropes in the next over, before young spin sensation Markande was introduced and he bowled a tight over.
Ben Cutting was next introduced into the attack and Rayudu smacked him over long-on, while Raina punched him across extra cover to accumulate 14 runs and complete their 50-run partnership.
Markande was next in line for Raina as he sent him for a boundary over his head before sending the ball sailing over long-on as CSK scored 91 for 1 off 10 overs.
In the 12th over, Krunal dismissed the dangerous Rayudu when he tried to clear the ropes with a sweep shot but ended up hitting straight to Cutting at deep midwicket.
Hero of CSK’s last match, skipper Dhoni then joined Raina in the middle as CSK crossed the 100-mark in the 13th over bowled by Bumrah, who gave just one run.
In the 15th over, Dhoni smashed Hardik for back-toback boundaries and then slammed Markande for an inside-out shot across the cover boundaries before depositing him over long-on.
Bumrah then came back for his second spell and Raina sent him across the short fine leg boundary and then flicked another one for another four to complete his halfcentury. McClenaghan then returned to remove Dhoni, who ended up giving an easy catch to Evin Lewis at deep cover as CSK slipped to 143-3 in 17.1 overs. One ball later, newman Dwayne Bravo was also sent packing with Markande taking the catch.