BRAVO’S BLITZ IN CHENNAI’S CHASE

Dhoni’s side marks IPL return with a stunning victory over Mumbai in opener

MUMBAI VS CHENNAI

Mumbai, India - Mumbai Indians' title defence began with a remarkable capitulation on Saturday. After managing to come back from a poor batting start, putting up an above-par score, throwing its superstar, Hardhik Pandya, at the Chennai Super Kings' top order and unleashing a starlet, Mayank Markande, to dismantle the middle order, it should have won this.

Having then had Chennai needing 48 off 21 balls with one wicket and half a hamstring remaining, it should have won big. With Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan and Mustafizur Rahman all available to bowl during that period, it has had to try hard not to.

But it didn't account for the might of Dwayne Bravo who, after conceding only 11 off his last three overs, returned to blitz seven sixes in a 30-ball 68 that put Chennai within seven runs of a victory that Kedar Jadhav sealed on one leg.

Bravo’s big-hitting ability has never been in doubt. He began by smashing McClenaghan for 20 runs in the 18th over. It was still 27 needed off the last two overs and Rohit Sharma threw the ball to Bumrah. Showing no heed for reputation, Bravo smashed one of the world’s leading white-ball bowlers for three sixes in another 20-run over before falling off the last ball.

Jadhav came out to face the last over, which was entrusted to Rahman. Jadhav was unable to run, and told Imran Tahir, the No 11, that he would try to get the runs standing still at one end. He ended up doing exactly that, hitting the fourth ball for six over fine leg after going down on one knee, and cover driving the next ball for four to spark wild celebrations in the Chennai camp. The men in yellow had ended up 169 for nine with one ball left, one wicket left, and one man on one leg.

It had all seemed much different when Mumbai put together a good total, riding on good scores by Ishan Kishan (40 off 29), Suryakumar Yadav (43 off 29) and Krunal Pandya (41 not out off 22).

Good opening spells by Deepak Chahar (one for 14 in three overs) and Shane Watson (two for 29 in four overs) had accounted for the duo of Evin Lewis and Rohit up top, but Mumbai’s depth in batting enabled them to recover.

That Mumbai couldn’t get more was down to Bravo again, who ended up with figures of 4-0-25-0 despite having gone for 13 runs in his opening over. His last three overs were bowled at the death, when Krunal made it an IPL debut to forget for Mark Wood, the England pacer going for 49 runs in four overs.