MI go down to CSK
A failed batting performance on Wednesday evening at a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore saw Mumbai Indians lose the crucial eliminator to a spirited Chennai Super Kings and bow out of the Indian Premier League.
The defending champions were asked to bat first and posted a challenging 187-5, riding on a blistering 20-ball 51 from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In reply, Mumbai Indians suffered a batting disorder, falling short of the target by a huge margin of 38 runs.
MI will return from the competition while CSK will now meet Delhi Daredevils at the same venue in a clash to qualify for the final. Mumbai Indians will get to be part of the qualifiers for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament scheduled later this year by way of being among the top four teams this IPL.
Dhoni's half-century took the wind out of the Mumbai Indians sails after a 94-run third wickets stand between S Badrinath and Michael Hussey allowed Chennai Super Kings to recover after two early losses.
Early on in the game, Chennai had lost two wickets with just a run on board in 1.2 overs, giving the side a nightmarish start. The second partnership was an unbeaten 73-run stand between Dhoni and Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo (33 off 14), which helped Chennai Super Kings post an eventual 187 for five in their stipulated 20 overs.
Dhoni sent the leather all over the park, hitting six fours and two sixes during the whirlwind innings. For Mumbai Indians, Munaf Patel's replacement Dhaval Kulkarni claimed three wickets giving away 46 runs turning out to be the team's most successful bowler. Kieron Pollard's 1-26 and James Franklin's 1-12 remained the other wicket-taking efforts.
The chase began on a cautious note with Sachin Tendulkar once again opening with Barbadian Dwayne Smith, riding on the success against Rajasthan Royals. However, the target being a stiff one, pressure worked against the MI top order and with the exception of Smith's 38, the rest perished like a pack of cards.
Chennai Super Kings attach came up with a disciplined show as Bravo and Albie Morkel picked two wickets each while Shadab Jakati, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picking a wicket each.
Mumbai Indians looked like they remained in the hunt till Pollard was at the crease. However, once the big-hitting West Indian left, it was all but over in a jiffy. When Pollard left, Mumbai still needed 52 runs in 10 balls as the painful result slowly enveloped them.
Tendulkar too looked in good touch striking two exquisite boundaries but could not last long, sacrificing his wicket ina run out that ended up being a terrible mixup.
Soon Smith left too and the middle-order, comprising Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu came into focus.
However, the trio had nothing in store to rescue its team as wickets fell one after another. Pollard tried a bit of aggression but it was too late by then.