MUMBAI: A comprehensive clinical display saw the Mumbai Indians storm into the final of the IPL 8 with a comprehensive win by 25 runs on the Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifying match at the Wankhede Tuesday. Chasing a stiff target of 188, Harbhajan Singh broke the heart of CSK batting order when he picked up the wickets of Suresh Raina and captain MS Dhoni off successive deliveries.
Raina, seeking to reduce the rate of asking the halfway stage, spoon a Simple return of off-spinner and captain Dhoni fell leg-before encryption trying to sweep the ball. CSK needed at least one of them to stay in the middle to give them a chance, but apart from Faf du Plessis, who made 45 (35b), the rest of the batting did not have enough fight in them, as it was bowled out for 162 .
The champions twice now travel to the house of his master Ranchi city, where the winner of Wednesday’s tie between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be played, while my opponents will wait for Sunday’s final in Calcutta.
Earlier, MI were provided another solid start by the opening pair of Lendl Simmons (65) and Parthiv Patel (35). The duo powered the hosts to a formidable 187 for six with a partnership of 90 execution that came just 60 deliveries.
His opening salvo set the tone for Kieron Pollard power hitter who smashed five sixes in his entertaining innings of 41 that took only 17 deliveries next. Dhoni ploy to rely primarily on their bowlers in India were counterproductive. Experienced off-spinner R Ashwin, who finished with 0-22 three, was used again under par like Ravindra Jadeja who disappeared 18 the two extensions but did pick wicket Simmons.
The third spinner, Pawan Negi, who made his full quota of overs, was developed by 46 runs.
Simmons did not look fluent, to start as Dhoni chose to start the process with Ashwin on a track that was being used for the first time this season. But the Trinity led the way to reach his fifth fifty in 12 games in 38 balls (3×4, 4×6).
Although Dwayne Bravo CSK rolled back into the game twice, first when he got rid of Parthiv and then Sharma in the 16th over when the captain and Pollard, where the threat of running away with the game, Ashish Nehra rolled much more sensitive to the record figures of 1-28 from his four.
Bowling 17 on the left arm seamer conceded just two runs and took his tally to 19 wicket by dismissing the dangerous Hardik Pandya. Bravo, which usually comes in a bowl after 13 credits, was convened by the 11 Dhoni as things had begun to look ominous for the champions twice.
Bravo picked Parthiv wicket, which was his 100th scalp in the IPL. By the way, the West is the only player with more than 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in the competition playing in his 89th game. Simmons, however, continued in the same vein, the launch of Mohit Sharma on his head as MY hurdled to 100 in the 12th over.
But things changed suddenly IM with two quick wickets to Sharma and Pandya leaving the fate of the innings’ in the broad shoulders of Pollard.
The road did not disappoint as she rode Bravo hit a huge six over cow corner in the 18th and Rayudu helped himself with a four off a full misdirected release. It cost about 15 CSK and the next, rolled by Mohit Sharma, 19.
Bravo did not help matters when he shot a final messy on bowling a couple of wides, as he ran 16 races.
