Super Kings deflate Mumbai Indians

Smith-McCullum opening salvo makes mockery of huge target

April 18, 2015 01:18 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:09 pm IST - MUMBAI:

GOING HARD: Dwayne Smith (62, 30b, 8x4, 4x6) produced a brutal assualt on the Mumbai Indians bowlers to take his team to a comprehensive win. Photo: Vivek Bendre

GOING HARD: Dwayne Smith (62, 30b, 8x4, 4x6) produced a brutal assualt on the Mumbai Indians bowlers to take his team to a comprehensive win. Photo: Vivek Bendre

Chennai Super Kings toyed with the Mumbai Indians’ bowling to march to its third consecutive win of IPL 2015. For the host, this was its fourth defeat in a row. The imposing Wankhede Stadium became a playground for openers Dwayne Smith (62, 30b) and Brendon McCullum (46, 20b) — the duo showcased power and timing as the visitors chased down the host’s 183 for seven in just 16.4 overs, finishing on 189 for four.

Left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith got a taste of the heat — Smith got inside the line for a scooped shot over the mid-wicket boundary, stepped back to cut past cover, and then moved across the line for a six over long-on. Lasith Malinga was next in the firing line, with the openers enjoying a feast in the PowerPlay overs.

McCullum played a late cut against Harbhajan Singh, and scooped a six over his shoulder when Pawan Suyal dug it in short, as CSK zoomed to a 100 in just 41 deliveries. The Kiwi blasted six fours and two sixes in another display of audacious hitting before MI counter-punched with two quick wickets.

CSK switched from rampage mode to routine mode after both openers were dismissed, the 109-run opening stand taking the match away from MI. Earlier, home team captain Rohit Sharma watched from the dugout as hitman Kieron Pollard and the enterprising Ambati Rayudu helped MI out of trouble from 57 for four against a disciplined attack and posted a formidable 183 for seven. Ashish Nehra took three for 23.

Promotion

Harbhajan’s promotion to number five did not yield the expected results. Walking out ahead of the mighty Pollard and the innovative Rayudu, he pulled off a few meaty shots, but the burst of runs did not happen. Rohit chipped in with 50 off 30 balls.

The powerful West Indian flexed his muscles against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the 14th over, swatting the ball over the ropes in a 26-run over. He survived a stumping chance, dragging his foot back in time, and then hit four boundaries and five stunning sixes in his 64 off 30 balls. He emerged the only MI strokeplayer with his reputation intact, entertaining fans with clean hits and brute power. Rohit complemented him in a 33-ball fifth wicket stand of 75; then Rayudu (29, 16b) gained confidence from watching Pollard at work, the sixth-wicket stand fetching 49 off 28 balls.

The MI openers misfired again as the team crawled to 20 for three in the first five overs. Parthiv was unlucky to be given out leg-before, fellow opener Lendl Simmons’s desperation came through in a wild slash. du Plessis pulled off a stunning catch at long off, giving Nehra his second wicket.

Dhoni turned to a mix of seam and spin to frustrate the dangerous Rohit and Harbhajan. Mohit Sharma plugged one end, while Jadeja teased the batsmen from the other. The MI captain swished and flashed at the ball, with runs trickling via edges, as the host crossed 60 at the halfway mark.

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