Mumbai Indian’s search for that elusive first win of IPL 2015 continued on Friday as they were beaten by a rampant Chennai Super Kings’ side at home.

Half centuries from Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard helped the hosts to a respectable 183 for 7 after electing to bat first. But Brendon McCullum (46 from 20 balls) and Dwayne Smith (62 off 30 balls) set the platform for the chase with a 109-run opening stand in less than eight overs. Chennai Super Kings got to the target with six wickets and 20 balls to spare.

Chennai Super Kings delivered a killing blow to Mumbai Indian’s chances in the Power-play overs. After a reasonably quiet Pawan Suyal over, McCullum struck Lasith Malinga for a six and a four in his first over. Mumbai Indians skipper Sharma introduced left-arm spin of Suchith in the third over, but Smith welcomed him with a six and a four. Malinga’s next over went for 21, and CSK had 50 on the board inside the four overs.

Suchith’s next over went for 22 and CSK finished the batting Power-play at 90 for 0. Smith completed his fifty on the last-ball of the Power-play. Harbhajan Singh finally gave Mumbai Indians the breakthrough in the eighth over by dismissing McCullum, but by then the visitors had already reached 109. Harbhajan dismissed Smith in the same over, but the openers had done enough for the rest to come in and score runs at their own pace. Suresh Raina’s 29-ball 43 enabled them to cross the finish line with 20 balls to spare.

Earlier, for the fourth consecutive game, Mumbai Indians could not make the most of the batting Power-play, losing three wickets in the first four overs.

Parthiv Patel was dismissed for a golden duck by Ashish Nehra in the first over. Nehra then removed Corey Anderson, promoted to No 3, in his second. Lendl Simmons, getting his first game of the season, got out while trying to give charge to Ishwar Pandey, and suddenly Mumbai Indians found themselves at 13 for 3 by the end of four overs.

The hosts didn’t stop to attack though, and promoted Harbhajan to No 5. The move seemed to be paying off, at least for some time, as the turbanator struck a couple of fours and a six. With Sharma at the other end, Bhajji got the run-rate upto above six. His promising knock was cut short by Mohit Sharma though, as the medium pacer forced him to top edge one to Ravindra Jadeja.

A lot depended on Sharma and Kieron Pollard now, and the duo didn’t disappoint. Pollard dispatched the first ball of his innings, from Jadeja, into the long on stands. Sharma gave Ashwin the same treatment in the next over, as the duo began to shift gears. As many as 13 runs were taken off Ashwin’s first over, and the offie never came back into the attack. Dwayne Bravo wasn’t spared either, as his first over went for 14, including a six from Pollard and a four from Sharma.

Mumbai Indians really turned things on in the 14th over, as Pollard smacked Jadeja for three sixes and a four to plunder 26 runs from it. Sharma completed his second half century of the season in the next over, but was dismissed the very next ball. His 31-ball 50 included five fours and a six, as the skipper added 75 runs for the fifth wicket from 33 balls. Ambati Rayudu, batting at No 7, played a cameo to help the hosts get past 180-run mark. His 16-ball 29 included three sixes and a four. Pollard was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the innings after making a superb 64 (30 balls, one four, five sixes).