17th over: CSK 189-4 (Bravo 13, Raina 43)
Back rom the break and Raina immediately times a ball through midwicket for four. He then smokes the next one straight at Bhaji at cover, who can’t hold on and a single is taken. Cheeky edge from Bravo brings the scores level. And that’s it – Bravo hits Pollard for six over mid-on to seal it!
Mumbai Indians win by six wickets and with 20 balls to spare!
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS WIN BY SIX WICKETS!
Bravo finishes it in style with a straight six. CSK imperious...
16th over: CSK173-4 (Raine 38, Bravo 3)
Raina working the ball around nicely, as is Bravo. Timeout time.
15th over: CSK 168-4 (Raina 34, Bravo 2)
Pollard into the attack and he runs-up and decides not to deliver his first-ball, presumably because he wanted Dhoni to give away some sort of tell. There was nothing. And there’s been nothing from Pollard, who bowls a few cutters that go wide and high before he’s full to Raina and timed, sweetly, down the ground for four! Dhoni chips back to the bowler and now Dwayne Bravo enters the fray.
WICKET! Dhoni c & b Pollard 3 (CSLK166-4)
It all happened so slowly - Dhoni shuffles down, Pollard slows it up and then Dhoni just chips straight back to him. Odd.
14th over: CSK158-3 (Raina 29, Dhoni 2)
Nice swivel pull from Raina starts Kumar’s over off with a four. Then a beast of a six takes Kumar over mid-wicket. Amazing sound off the bat.
13th over: CSK146-3 (Raina 18, Dhoni 0)
Faf goes but the roof nearly goes with him as MS Dhoni strides out to the middle to see his side home. Fast hands get him off the mark and keep out a Malinga yorker.
WICKET! du Plessis b Malinga 11 (CSK 144-3)
Superb yorker from Lasith –far, far, too good for Faf and a few others, too.
12th over: CSK 143-2 (Raina 16, du Plessis 11)
Tower six from Raina, who skips down the track and extends his arms perfectly, clearing the boundary at mid-on. SIX! A couple of dots later, Bhaji goes flatter but wide and Raina can simply hold his bat out and guide it to third man for four! Single into the leg-side sees him retain the strike.
11th over: CSK132-2 (Raina 5, du Plessis 11)
Malinga back and his radar is off. A short-ball is played surprisingly nicely by Raina, who pulls in front of himself nicely, for just one. A loose stroke from du Plessis gets the Mumbai Indians ooo-ing
10th over: CSK128-2 (Raina 3, du Plessis 10)
Three singles and then a cute dab from Faf goes fine enough to evade the man running around from fine-leg. Easy as.
9th over: CSK 121-2 (Raina 1, du Plessis 5)
Vinay Kumar into the attack, with two new batsmen at the crease. Both get off the marks with singles before a sharp skip down the pitch sees Faf thump the ball for four down the ground.
8th over: CSK 115-2 (Raina 0, du Plessis 0)
So McCullum goes, but the very ball after Smith powers Bhaji over midwicket for six! But then he goes along with Smith, brining Faf and Raina to the crease.
WICKET! Smith c Rohit b Harbhajan 62 (CSK 115-2)
So two in the over, as Bhaji holds one back and Smith, head back, heaves high and Rohit takes a really good, steepling catch.
WICKET! McCullum c Kumar b Harbhajan 46 (CSK 109-1)
McCullum skews down the ground, while on the charge, and finds Vinay Kumar at deep mid off. Damage done for MI, though - exceptional opening stand from B-Mac and DR Smith.
7th over: CSK 107-0 (Smith 56, McCullum 44)
A return for Suyal, who was the only bright spot of what was a horrific Power Play – FYI 90-0 is the second highest score in IPL history. Oh good, a no-ball and a free hit... So, naturally, it’s a full toss. Carted between the leg-side fielders for four. Absurd ramp shot for six from B-Mac brings up the team ton. RIDICULOUS. Now two wides.
6th over: CSK 90-0 (Smith 50, McCullum 36)
Move to the senior spinner starts with another boundary - this time McCullum swings through and lifts him over cover for four! The next ball pierces the field and not only is it four, but Rohit Sharma foolishly dives for a lost cause and grabs his shoulder in agony. A brief interlude and McCullum’s at it again, dancing down and find the cover boundary for a third consecutive four! Smith gets the strike an deliberately tickles an edge for four. Dab into the leg side and that’s 18 from the over and fifty for Dwayne Smith, from 22 balls.
Absolutely moronic from Rohit, taken out frustrations on his own shoulder.
— Sim Mahon (@SimUKCricket) April 17, 2015
5th over: CSK 72-0 (Smith 45, McCullum 23)
Schith continuining and Smith dabs him down, fine, between the keeper and third man. Now six down the ground! And then inside out over cover! Then helped around the corner for four - 22 off the over!
4th over: CSK 50-0 (Smith 25, McCullum 22)
Nonsense from Malinga – he’s short again and McCullum pulls it away for four! Malinga searches for the yorker and McCullum meets it with a straight bat for four down the ground. And then a tame four for Smith, as he guides to third man and it nut-megs Rayudu, who’s right on the rope. Grim. And now a no-ball and free hit to finish the over... Clubbed for four!
3rd over: CSK 29-0 (Smith 15, McCullum 13)
Ballsy from Rohit, as he goes to the left-arm spin of Jadageesha Suchith. His second ball is carted into the stands, straight, for six, before he over-corrects and is slammed through point off the back-foot.
2nd over: CSK 18-0 (Smith 5, McCullum 12)
A highlights-less Malinga into the attack, hair as black and as scraggy as east London nights, and he’s straight at McCullum, who pushes him back down the wicket. Sharp, sharp bumper surprises B-Mac but it’s a too high and wided. Quick hands and another short-ball is clouted for six over square leg. Two balls later and it’s four over cover! Good one to finish as Malinga beats Smith’s edge..
1st over: CSK 6-0 (Smith 5, McCullum 1)
A lot of swing for the left-armer Pawan Suyal. Smith gets one away and scampers a risky single before B-Mac meets a full back with the full-face, for one. A touch short and Smith hangs back and fires over square leg for a one-bounce four!
And we’re back...
20th over: Mumbai Indians 183-7
Well that was an eventful last over. Pollard flicks a four, Rayudu goes big but can only find Jadeja at mid-wicket, then Pollard flicks to deep square leg, meaning Bravo’s on a hat trick. The last ball is a superb yorker, Dhoni throws at the stumps as they try to steal a bye, he misses, Bravo gathers and tries at the non-strikers end and the batsmen get back for another bye.
And breathe.
CSK need 184 to win.
WICKET! Pollard c Smith b Bravo 64 (MI 181-7)
Yeah, ignore me. Pollard gets another full-toss on his legs but finds the man at deep square leg perfectly.
WICKET! Rayudu c Jadeja b Bravo 29 (MI 181-6)
Right idea from Rayudu but doesn’t get enough on it – even if Shastri thought he did – and it’s an easy take. Importantly, the batsmen crossed and Pollard’s on strike...
19th over: Mumbai Indians 175-5 (Pollard 59, Rayudu 28)
Mohit back of the hand and a single for Rayudu gets Pollard in, who crashes down the ground for just one. But Rayudu’s the man to clout it over Raina’s head for six! Another six ,much trickier this one, it’s a full toss, bordering on a no-ball but he manages to get under it and straight clout it over the rope. Absurd from Rayudu, as he gets on his knees and has to wait to dab a ball to third man for just one.
18th over: Mumbai Indians 160-5 (Pollard 58, Rayudu 14)
Rayudu does well to get Pollard on strike first ball and Pollard manages to thump a wide yorker to mid-wicket. Faf does an unreal Superman impression to claw the ball in and save two. Brilliant slower ball from Bravo sees Pollard swing early and loosely. Another fine yorker from Bravo sees a single snatched. Bit of chat between the two men from Trinidad and Tobago. Bravo wins this one with just five coming from the over.
17th over: Mumbai Indians 155-5 (Pollard 55, Rayudu 13)
It’s not a pretty start, but Rayudu top edges over Dhoni’s head for four! Next ball he charges, it’s short and he pulls it over midwicket for six! Sharp wrists and sharper running from Pollard sees him bring up a half century in 21 balls (five sixes so far). Pandey finishes on Pollard’s legs and it’s nudged around the corner for four!
16th over: Mumbai Indians 138-5 (Pollard 49, Rayudu 2)
One off the first ball and it’s new man Rayudu on strike, who times nicely off his legs for one. Five men out for Pollard on the leg side fence and he takes the hint, scampering one into the off side.
15th over: Mumbai Indians 132-5 (Pollard 45)
Probably makes sense for Rohit to take on Nehra, who returns to the attack. Two runs played on the up through point go nicely before he flays one to the man at deep mid-on. Short and Pollard short-arm jabs for two into the leg side. Gives himself room, next up, and under-edges through to fine leg for one. Fifty for Rohit brought up with a sensual cover drive (off 30 balls). Out next ball...
Another nonsense timeout.
WICKET! Rohit c Bravo b Nehra 50 (MI 132-5)
Rohit goes to fifty then finds Bravo running in from deep mid-on. Shame.
14th over: Mumbai Indians 124-4 (Sharma 45, Pollard 42)
Class bit of bowling from Jadeja sees Pollard coming and fires down the off side. Dhoni, as ever with the spinners, is sharp as, whipping the bails off. Luckily for Pollard, his legs are big enough to charge and simply shuffle his back foot into the crease. Next ball is almost as wide and Pollard, somehow, it’s muscled over mid-off for SIX! Rank wide from Jadeja to follow. Rank, rank half-tracker is worked over midwicket for another SIX! And a straight four! And another six. Christ on a bendy-bus.... (26 from that)
13th over: Mumbai Indians 98-4 (Sharma 44, Pollard 19)
Dwayne Bravo into the attack and he starts with a full toss that Rohit clubs into the covers, but B-Mac does brilliantly to palm it away and save three. WI v WI for a ball, as Pollard times a yorker to deep mid-on for one. Big one – Pollard clubs a short-ball over square leg for SIX! Over ends with a crispy punch for four from Rohit! 14 from the over...
12th over: Mumbai Indians 84-4 (Sharma 38, Pollard 11)
Ravi Ashwin into the attack and Rohit goes big over mid-off for six! Nice cut to deep point is fielded with a size 11 boot for two. Pollard skips, Ashwin pulls the length back, Pollard’s trunk arms reach and swat this to mid-wicket for four!
11th over: Mumbai Indians 71-4 (Rohit 29, Pollard 7)
Pollard’s first ball is chipped for a 91m SIX! Absurd shot. An exchange of singles Obvious statement with MI four down and these two guns in but, you know, it’s all on these two.
10th over: Mumbai Indians 62-4 (Rohit 27, Pollard 0)
Bhaji times the kurta pajama off one through point for four but goes to the very next ball. And then Rohit, sweet sweet Rohit, nails the perfect cover drive for four. Late, in-ducker from Sharma is kept out well. Straight past Mohit for the final ball but it’s only a single as mid off comes around to clean up.
WICKET! Harbhajan c Jadeja b Mohit Sharma 24 (Mumbai Indians 57-4)
Harbhajan gives himself room for a hack across the line but is cramped and can only sky to point.
9th over: Mumbai Indians 53-3 (Rohit 22, Harbhajan 20)
SLAPPY BAGGED! Jadeja tosses one up and Harbhajan unfurls his arm and takes that into the stand for six. Two balls later, Jadeja cramps him after Bhaji steps across and one is taken into the leg side. Rohit waits and leans into one through cover for one. And a DROP! Microsoft Dhoni cannot compute a wild hack from Bhaji, which goes in and out. Single to finish – nine from the over.
8th over: Mumbai Indians 44-3 (Rohit 21, Harbhajan 12)
Gorgeous from Rohit as he times a wide ball, on the top of it’s bounce, all along the carpet through point. Miscues a drive but gets away with it down the ground. Fine bumper to push Harbhajan back, who was looking for the hook next ball. Indecisive running on the fifth ball sees Jadeja fire at the non-strikers end, as Harbhajan nearly goes to a misfield. Glorious back-foot punch for one gives a Rohit a single to cover, before Bhaji takes his.
Timeout.
7th over: Mumbai 36-3 (Rohit 15, Harbhajan 10)
Jadeja into the attack, with a tight field. Sharma manages to get one down to mid-on, before Harbhajan clears his front leg and does down the ground, at about head height, for four!
6th over: Mumbai Indians 31-3 (Sharma 14, Harbhajan 6)
Mohit Sharma replaces Pandey and Rohit Sharma (this is going to get annoying) is straight onto a back-of-a-length ball and whips him over mid-wicket for four. Wider from Sharma (not that one) and Sharma (yeah, him), finds a gap in the covers for one. Harbhajan gets his first run, a loft into the off-side which has Faf faffing back and diving but just missing the ball. More air-time from Bhaju but he’s done by the last ball, a well-disguised slower ball that he doesn’t pick.
5th over: Mumbai Indians 20-3 (Sharma 9, Harbhajan 0)
Good tuck off the hips for two and thumped slash over point for four. Bit more respect to a straighter one from Nehra. And the next one, before he dabs into the leg side for one.
4th over: Mumbai Indians 13-3 (Sharma 2, Harbhajan 0)
Simmons gives himself room and beats cover-point but a couple more dots and he’s trying to go down the ground and fluffs it straight to du Plessis. Harbhajan’s into the fray after his beastly but ultimately futile half-century in the previous game against the Kings XI. Weird, nothing flick at the ball to end the over.
WICKET! Simmons c du Plessis b Pandey 5 (MI 12-3)
Shambolic, as Simmons mistimes one down the ground and it’s caught, comfortably, by Faf. Harbhajan’s in at five...
3rd over: Mumbai Indians 8-2 (Simmons 1, Sharma 2)
Anderson on the gallop, but he thumps the ball too close to Faf, at mid-on, who stops the ball well. Next ball, Corey stays where he is and plays it down under his eyes. Finally - RUNS! – as Anderson charges and just edges past second slip, after giving himself room. He’s gone, soon after, and Mumbai are up against it already...
WICKET! Anderson c du Plessis b Nehra 4 (MI 6-2)
Anderson mistimes straight and Faf runs around to take a brilliant diving catch.
2nd over: Mumbai Indians 2-1 (Simmons 1, Anderson 0)
Ishway Pandey – right arm, hit the deck, bit of outie, seam bowler – is into the attack and bowls a couple of Test match line deliveries that are left extravagantly by Simmons. Gorgeous back-foot cut for none, as McCullum makes a superb save at cover-point. Back in the action again, skipping in to field at cover. He’s every-bloody-where. Simmons eventually evades B-Mac, only to find R-Jadj. Maiden.
1st over: Mumbai Indians 2-1 (Simmons 1, Anderson 0)
First ball is left alone by Lendl Simmons before Ashish Nerha gets a bit more shape on the next one and Simmons’ is forced to get forward and defend into the off side. Same again but a single is burgled expertly. An LBW and Patel is gone but it brings big gun Corey Anderson to the crease. A booming wide and a couple more leaves close out the over.
WICKET! P.Patel LBW Nehra 0 (Mumbai Indians 1-1)
Nehra with some nice shape – out-swing to the leftie Patel – who falls over his front pad and is clocked in from. Erasmus sends him on his way.
Right - the players are out there. Here we go...
The Mumbai Indians have won the toss and decided to bat. Shastri’s loving it.
MI: L.Simmons, Patel†, R.Sharma*, A.Rayudu, C.Anderson, K.Pollard, Harbhajan, J.Suchith, Vinay Kumar, Malinga, P.Suyal
CSK: D.Smith, B.McCullum, S.Raina, F du Plessis, MS Dhoni*†, D.J.Bravo, R.Jadeja, R.Ashwin, M.Sharma, I.C.Pandey, A.Nehra
CSK unchanged, playing with 10 men & Jadeja... #ipl
— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) April 17, 2015
Updated
So here we are. The future.
I’d say it’s fair to call these two the most popular sides in the IPL and have really taken it’s overall pazzazz to heart. The types to go for marquee or measured, guns over gumption and... stuff over better stuff. Whatever that might be. They’ve got three IPL titles between them, and Chennai have two.
I’m not sure if there’s a sponsor for the word that best describes Mumbai’s form leading into this match, but they’ve been Happy Shopper Shoddy so far, after defeat in their opening three matches. That they find themselves up against the in-form Chennai has even the most Onken Optimist plumping for the hosts.
McCullum has been in unreal form for the Super Kings. However, the Indians do have the three leading wicket-takers in the tournament.
Team news as and when...
Updated
Vithushan will be here soon.
