Mumbai Indians soared on wings of confidence into its third IPL final, beating league-toppers Chennai Super Kings in the first Qualifier. CSK was on course before plunging downhill, managing only 162 in 19 overs to hand the home team an exhilarating 25-run victory.
Dwayne Smith flicked and missed at a Lasith Malinga delivery on the leg stump, and then looked around bemused as the MI fielders ran towards the Lankan in celebration of a leg-before dismissal.
Mike Hussey turned aggressor, swinging an effortless six off Vinay Kumar high into the mid-wicket stands. The bowler got his man, slanting across for a nick behind.
Rohit Sharma decided to take advantage of a turning track by getting Harbhajan Singh angling the ball in from around the wicket.
Turning pointThe off-spinner brought his experience into play with a match-winning 11th over which saw Suresh Raina scoop a return catch on the second ball. Off the very next delivery, M.S. Dhoni crouched into a sweep on the first ball, missed and was gone.
Raina’s fall triggered a collapse, sparking celebrations with each dismissal.
After Mitchell McClenaghan and Parthiv Patel combined to run Dwayne Bravo (20 off 15 balls) out, Jagadeesha Suchith snapped up Faf du Plessis and it was all over for CSK.
Earlier, Dhoni put Ashwin and Nehra on the job after losing the toss, aiming to check the run-flow against batsmen looking to take advantage of the field restrictions.
However, the off-spinner’s three-over spell saw Simmons smash two sixes — one straight down the ground and the other a fierce slog into the long-on stands after clearing his foot.
A confident Parthiv brought footwork and timing into play against Negi, flicking a six over mid-wicket, followed by a cut over point after making space at the crease with a step back.
Parthiv and Simmons kept up the offensive till the 10th over, forcing CSK to hasten Bravo’s entry into the attack.
The Purple Cap-holder added Parthiv’s scalp to his tally — his 100th in the IPL and 21st this season — with a slower delivery. The MI opener walked back to applause, having done his bit with a quickfire 35 off 25 balls.
An excellent low, running catch at long-off by Negi off Jadeja sent back Simmons for 65 off 51 balls.
It was CSK’s catching that saved its bowlers further blushes: Jadeja came up with two smart catches to send back Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, and Raina held on to a couple of skiers, off Rayudu and, later, Pollard.
Five sixes from Pollard fetched some quick runs — 52 to be precise — in the last five overs.
Though Bravo swelled his wicket tally to 23, he faced some heat in the death overs and finished with figures of 4-0-40-3.
Eventually, Pollard’s 17-ball 41, building on the openers’ work, helped swell MI’s score to 187.
