PATHIRANA SWINGS IT CSK’S WAY AGAINST MUMBAI
Gaikwad, Dube and Dhoni sizzle in 20-run win
MUMBAI:Matheesha Pathirana’s splendid show of four wickets for 28 runs enabled Chennai Super Kings to register a convincing 20–run win over Mumbai Indians in the IPL here on Sunday. Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 105
(63b, 11x4, 5x6) went in vain. This is CSK’s first win away from home in three attempts this season and it consolidates its position at third in the table with 8 points from 6 matches. Mumbai, meanwhile, slumped to its fourth loss in six matches to occupy eighth spot.
Set to chase 207, Mumbai could manage only 186/6 with Pathirana rising to the occasion in a high-profile contest. The Sri Lankan took the key wickets of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Romario Shepherd.
Earlier, MS Dhoni’s ballistic 4-ball 20 garnished forceful fifties by Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad
as Chennai powered to a strong 206 for four.
Dube (66 not out, 10x4, 2x6) and Gaikwad (69), who milked 90 runs off a mere 45 balls for the third wicket, gave Chennai innings steam in the initial and middle passages of the play before Dhoni mesmerized a packed Wankhede with vintage shot-making.
The former CSK skipper hammered three consecutive sixes off MI skipper Hardik Pandya (2/43) to help his side collect 26 runs off the final over.
Dhoni’s stunning knock – which had the balls sailing over long-off, wide longon and deep square leg – also pushed Chennai past the 200-run mark, which did appear tough until that final over.
On a placid wicket, CSK batters flourished between overs 11-15 to collect 79 runs to set course for a big total, with Gaikwad and Dube showing their rich form.
CSK made a sedate start through a new opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane (5) and Rachin Ravindra (21, 16b, 2x4, 1x6). However, the move did not work as Rahane was caught by Pandya at mid-on off pacer Gerald Coetzee.
Gaikwad’s acceleration in the latter half of the powerplay helped CSK reach a par 48/1 as the CSK captain made his intentions clear.
Even though he could not push beyond 69, which came off 40 balls with five sixes and as many boundaries, Gaikwad appeared in prime form.
The CSK skipper hit through the line effortlessly to clear ropes and when the MI bowlers challenged him by angling their deliveries into his body, Gaikwad improvised to find his runs without taking any unwanted risks.
BRIEF SCORES: Chennai Super Kings 206/4 in 20 overs (R Gaikwad 69, S Dube 66) bt Mumbai Indians 186/6 in 20 overs (R Sharma 105*, M Pathirana 4/28)