Super openers deny Mumbai first win

Ricky Ponting’s Mumbai Indians have extended their losing streak to four games against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium.

The Super Kings chased down 184 in less than 17 overs to register their third successive victory this tournament.

Superb innings from Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollardlooked to have arrested their nightmarish start to IPL 8, but Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum’s 109-run opening stand from just 44 balls tilted their match dramatically in Chennai's favour.

Ashish Nehra’s three-wicket haul on a flat wicket also proved crucial to limiting Mumbai to just 183 on a good batting wicket and won him his second man-of-the-match award of the tournament.

Rohit said after the game he was very disappointed with the execution of his team’s bowling plans, adding there was no way his bowlers should have allowed the Super Kings to get away to that kind of a start.

Chennai went into the match with an unchanged side, while Mumbai decided to bring back Ambati Rayudu for Unmukt Chand and Harbhajan Singh for Shreyas Gopal. Lendl Simmons came in to the XI for the injured Aaron Finch.

Despite coming out on the wrong side of the ledger after batting first last game, Mumbai again opted to set a total. And again, the Indians lost early wickets.

Opening batsman Parthiv Patel’s stint at the crease lasted all of one ball after umpire Marais Erasmus adjudged the 30-year-old lbw off the bowling of Nehra.

Corey Anderson, who has a couple of half-centuries to his name this tournament batting at number five, was promoted to first drop in a move that illustrated Mumbai’s apparent confusion as to their best lineup.

The New Zealand allrounder hit a four, patted out five other deliveries, then mistimed a drive from Nehra to a leaping Faf du Plessis at mid-on. That was Nehra’s second wicket; his figures reading 2-15 from three overs.

When Simmons jogged down the track and chipped a wide ball mid-off, the Mumbai think-tank was left with much to ponder.

As if the promotion of Anderson to number three wasn’t bold enough, the decision to send spinner Harbhajan Singh in at number five appeared reckless at best.

The Mumbai Indians have been at their most successful in previous years when they have batted cautiously in the first half of their innings and exploded in the back end with the likes of Rohit, Kieron Pollard and Anderson.

A similar tactic was used against Kolkata and Rajasthan, but its effectiveness was severely hampered by the loss of early wickets and, in turn, the middle order was forced to leave their run too late.

Instead of correcting this course, Mumbai have instead opted for all-out attack – irrespective of the situation.

Harbhajan lived by the sword and was fortunate to survive as long as he did at the crease.

Mishits fell in no-man’s land regularly, a couple of direct hits could have seen him run-out and skipper Dhoni dropped Harbhajan’s off an attempted cut.

A few balls later, the former India spinner top-edged one from Mohit Sharma to point and was walking back for a 21-ball 24.

Mumbai had lost four for 57 with just over 10 overs remaining, leaving Rohit and Pollard to lift the Mumbai Indians back into the contest. 

And the pair did it in fine style.

Coming out at four, Rohit remained positive as wickets tumbled around him.

He succeeded in getting off the mark with a couple to third-man before smashing a boundary through point a couple of balls later. Mohit was welcomed into the attack with a crisp pull shot through mid-wicket and then slashed square for four more.

Pollard signalled his intentions early by crashing his first delivery from Ravindra Jadeja for six.

Ravi Ashwin and Bravo went for 13 and 14 respectively from their next two overs before Dhoni threw Jadeja the ball again. Bad move. Pollard hit three sixes and a four as Jadeja, who had conceded 23 from three, ended up with 0-49 off his allotted overs.

Rohit brought up his half-century in the 15th over before Nehra had him caught – the big scalp the quick’s third wicket in what would prove the spell of the innings.

Pollard’s 50 came soon after, from just 21 balls, the West Indian blasting 64 from 30 deliveries before falling to Bravo as Mumbai finished on 7-183 off 20 overs.

Despite the sizeable total, McCullum and Smith made a mockery of the chase, they pair rampaging early to leave the home attack stunned.

The first over from Pawan Suyal was the proverbial calm before the storm with Chennai scoring just six from it.

McCullum then top-edged a pull shot into the stands off Lasith Malinga, before crunching the Sri Lanka quick through the covers for a four.

Taking his cue from the Kiwi captain, Smith crashed a six and a four off the bowling of left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith to take Chennai to 0-29 from three.

The dam burst apart even further from there, Malinga going for four more boundaries as Chennai passed notched their half-century.

The pair wasn’t done yet however, with Suchith blown away by Smith to the tune of 22 runs in his second over. 

Chennai were 0-90 after six overs - the second highest PowerPlay total in the history of the IPL.

Mumbai opted to take the Strategic Timeout immediately, with coach Ponting seen passing on some strong words to his team.

Less than two overs and 25 runs later, Mumbai had removed both openers.

McCullum (46 off 20) mistimed a lofted drive straight to long-off, while Smith’s (62 off 30) slog ended up in the hands of mid-wicket.

The damage had been done however, with the Super Kings needing just 69 from 12 overs.

Mumbai earned themselves a consolation pair of late wickets with du Plessis and Dhoni departing cheaply, but Suresh Raina’s unbeaten 43 ensured the chase would be completed with 20 balls to spare.

Chennai now take on Rajasthan in a top-of-the-table clash in Ahmedabad while Mumbai have a day to lick their wounds before travelling to Bangalore to take on the Royal Challengers.