JOIN USMumbai edge past Chennai in thrilling chase
Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in a breathtaking finish to record their fifth successive win of the Indian Premier League here on Friday.
Needing 30 runs off the last 12 balls, Hardik Pandya (21 not out of 8 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (34 off 19) smashed left-arm spinner Pawan Negi for 25 runs in the penultimate over to tilt the high-pressure game in Mumbai’s favour.
Mumbai took two balls to knock off the five runs needed in the final over, ending at 159/4. Super Kings had recovered to post 158 for five in 20 overs. Pandya was the star of the night as he backed his effort on the field by hitting three sixes in the 19th over, proving to be the difference in the end.
Super Kings remain at top in the points table despite their first defeat at home this season while Mumbai added to their remarkable turnaround with a fifth win in as many games. They are placed fourth with six wins and five losses.
The away team made a flying start in the chase, racing to 61 for no loss in six overs.
Parthiv Patel (45) was aggressive from the outset, getting his first four with a exquisite punch on a length ball from medium pacer Mohit Sharma.
Simmons soon joined in punishing the bowlers, especially in-form speedster Ashish Nehra, smashing the experienced Indian for a six and couple of fours.
Having already off to their best start of the season, Mumbai were cruising at 84 for no loss in 10 overs.
The momentum then shifted in the next over when Ravichandran Ashwin removed the openers in space of four balls.
And soon it became 86 for three as Dwayne Bravo had his West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard run out with a spectacular direct hit.
Mumbai, needing 58 runs off the last 30 balls, were now relying heavily on skipper Rohit Sharma and Rayudu. The seasoned pair took the team closer the to target by hammering Nehra for 17 runs in the 17th over, their team still needing 34 off 18 balls.
Earlier, M S Dhoni (39) and Negi (36) smashed 55 off the last five overs to push their team to a fighting total after it struggled for runs in major part of the innings.
The home team had a rather quiet start by the standards of their explosive openers as they reached 44 for one in the first six overs.
Though Brendon McCullum (23) was given a life early on with Harbhajan Singh dropping a simple catch at backward square leg, his time in the middle was limited as the New Zealander was caught at deep mid-wicket soon after as he mistimed an hit off Viny Kumar. His opening partner Dwayne Smith (27) too was held out at deep-midwicket, as well as Suresh Raina (10), who was sent back with a brilliant catch by Hardik Pandya, leaving Super Kings at 67/3 in 10 overs.
Faf du Plessis (17) and Dhoni then gathered 39 runs for the fourth wicket but just when they looked ready for the death overs onslaught, the South African fell off pacer Mitchell McClenaghan, derailing Chennai’s late assualt.
score board
Chennai Super Kings: Dwayne Smith c Pandya b Harbhajan 27, Brendon McCullum c Pandya b Vinay Kumar 23, Suresh Raina c Pandya b Suchith 10, Faf du Plessis c Simmons b McClenaghan 17, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (not out) 39, Pawan Negi (run out) 36; Extras: (W-6) 6; Total: (5 wkts, 20 overs) 158.
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-64, 3-65, 4-104, 5-158.
Bowling: Mitchell McClenaghan 4-0-34-1, Marchant de Lange 4-1-30-0, Jagadeesha Suchith 4-0-21-1, Vinay Kumar 3-0-33-1, Harbhajan Singh 4-0-36-1, Hardik Pandya 1-0-4-0.
Mumbai Indians: Lendl Simmons c Smith b Ashwin 38, Parthiv Pate c du Plessis b Ashwin 45, Rohit Sharma c Raina b Bravo 18, Kieron Pollard (run out) 1, Ambati Rayudu (not out) 34, Hardik Pandya (not out) 21; Extras: (B-1, W-1) 2; Total (4 wkts; 19.2 overs) 159.
Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-85, 3-86, 4-125.
Bowling: Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-17-2, Mohit Sharma 2-0-19-0, Ashish Nehra 3-0-45-0, Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-27-0, Pawan Negi 4-0-34-0, Dwayne Bravo 2.2-0-16-1.