IPL 2018: Match 27, CSK vs MI, Review - Clinical Mumbai pull one back on their arch-rivals

Mumbai Indians (MI) finally got back to the winning ways as they trumped their arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 8 wickets. They calculated the chase brilliantly though it felt in the middle that had messed it up. Rohit Sharma, the skipper, led from the front nicely and won the game for his side. Though CSK would feel that they fell short with the bat in hand in the final 10 overs as the visitors bowled well at the death. However, the credit should go to the team in the end who played as a unit on the day when they needed it the most.

CSK were invited to bat first by the visitors’ skipper Rohit Sharma after winning the toss as they took the tough decision of dropping out of form Kieron Pollard. Even Mustafizur Rahman was also axed with JP Duminy and Ben Cutting coming into the playing XI. The hosts, however, went in with an unchanged side which had won the last game.

Rayudu’s purple patch continues

Shane Watson has gone quiet after making the century against Royals and same was the case in this game as he was undone by Krunal Pandya in the 5th over the innings. However, the partnership was built nicely after that by the man in form Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina. The former’s footwork was exceptional again both off seamers and spinners. While he concentrated on getting crucial boundaries in the middle overs, his partner settled in nicely for an expected assault.

He was clever in his shot-making and cleared the boundaries comfortably. One of those maximums though was unbelievable when he was deceived in the air by Krunal. He came down the track and failed to reach the pitch of the delivery but amazingly whipped it in the air with the help of his wrists. The commentators were literally surprised as it went for six after it looked like a completely mistimed shot. It was nothing but the perfect execution form the Hyderabad cricketer.

Mumbai come back at the death

He missed out on slamming yet another half-century but strengthened his hold on the Orange cap and was dismissed in the 12th over again by the ever so wily Krunal Pandya. Meanwhile, Raina had got his eye in and had played a few delightful strokes. At 91/1, CSK were set to get close to 180 once again. But the bowling was extremely effective in the important game from them as they pulled things back sensationally. Mitchell McClenaghan’s 18th over was the turning point as he scalped the dangerous MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo.

The finishing kick never came for the Men in Yellow then, as they could muster only 169 after 20 overs. Raina tried his best and could only find a solitary maximum off the final delivery of the innings as he remained unbeaten on 75 off 47 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

Cautious start from MI

Mumbai needed a calm head in the middle to chase down the total of 170 as the duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis strode out to the middle. The former was once again at his fluent best making the statement upfront in the powerplay overs. He played the impressive cut shot off the backfoot to get off the mark and juggernaut continued. But his partner struggled immensely as the ploy to bowl Harbhajan Singh to him worked wonders for CSK. The off-spinner bowled well to him and increased the pressure by bowling dot balls.

Though the openers added 69 runs together, they took almost 10 overs to score those runs and Surya succumbed to the pressure to give the much-needed wicket to the opposition. The skipper led from the front then and came out to bat only to play some of the beautiful strokes of the day. The two sixes smashed to Watson showed his pure class and lazy elegance, the word which has owned by the Hitman of India.

While the first one was only the extension of his arms to the pitched up delivery to send it over the ropes and then unfurled the lap-sweep nonchalantly after which everyone was in awe of Rohit. In the meantime, Lewis also hit some big shots to find his groove but he was scalped by Dwayne Bravo in the 17th over as Mumbai still needed 42 off 23 balls. But they kept their nerve with Hardik Pandya and Rohit finding boundaries at the right time to bring the equation down to 22 off 12 balls.

The skipper brought all his experience to the fore as he churned out four boundaries off Shradul in the penultimate over as it also brought up his half-century. The last over was a mere formality then, as the game was sealed with two balls to spare.

Mumbai have finally won their second game of the season as CSK were handed the second loss after 7 matches. This might be the much-needed spark the defending champions needed to resurrect their season.

Brief Scores

Chennai Super Kings 169/5 after 20 overs (S Raina 75*, A Rayudu 46; M McClenaghan 2/26, K Pandya 2/32)

Mumbai Indians 170/2 after 19.4 overs (R Sharma 56*, S Yadav 44, E Lewis 47; H Singh 1/20)

Result: Mumbai Indians won by 8 wickets

Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma

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