Chennai Super Kings (CSK), irrespective of the venue, the conditions, the long batting line-up of the Mumbai Indians, pulled off what is rare at the Wankhede Stadium, defending a total, especially in the night games as the Men in Yellow won by 20 runs on Sunday, April 14. Former Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Rohit Sharma smashed his second IPL century but no other batter supported him from the other end. Matheesha Pathirana was the difference between the two sides in the end as he took four wickets to break the back of the chase for the home team.
At 130/2 in the 14th over, Mumbai Indians were on course to chase down 207 runs with two set batters in, however, the wicket of Tilak Varma proved to be the turning point as the strike dried up for Rohit and the incoming batters kept hitting out to the fielders on the boundary and eventually the Mumbai Indians fell short. Captain Hardik Pandya struggled to get going, Tim David hit a couple of big sixes but he too got out as the pressure kept mounting on Rohgit and the required run rate kept rising to 14, 15 and 17.
Rohit did get a few boundaries at the end but it just wasn't enough was probably too late and the Mumbai Indians will be disappointed at how the chase panned out ultimately. Rohit and Ishan Kishan got off the blocks rather quickly and Mumbai Indians had a sizeable powerplay of 63 runs at over 10 runs per over.
However, Pathirana's first over on return helped CSK put breaks on Mumbai's scoring. Pathirana not only broke the opening partnership but also got the huge wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, the No 1 T20 batter in the world. Tilak and Rohit did well to stitch a quick 60-run partnership but it all came downhill from there on for the five-time champions.
The win margin was 20 runs and who scored those? MS Dhoni! Yes, Chennai Super Kings were already headed towards a strong total on the board but the booster shot Dhoni gave in those four deliveries - smashing three of them for a six - did make a difference between a score of 190 and a 200-plus.
There's always a psychological advantage of having a total of in excess of 200 and the Super Kings must have felt that and it showed in Mumbai Indians' body language as well given they made a mockery of 197 just three days ago.
CSK had started slow in their batting innings and the unusual change in the positions was a bit startling as well. However, the 90-run stand between captain Gaikwad and Shivam Dube turned the tide. Not just because it came off just 45 deliveries but that it forced the Mumbai Indians to think out of the box, to not bowl a spinner after the 8th over and to go awry from their plans. CSK could have done better in their order with Daryl Mitchell going in the 16th over and struggling but Dhoni's burst washed away all the sins.
CSK are now suddenly back in the top three pack with the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders with their first away win of the season while the Mumbai Indians are down with the likes of Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals with two wins and four losses.
