IPL6: Mumbai stun Chennai by 9 runs

Mumbai Indians tasted success by nine runs after a nerve-tingling finish against Chennai Super Kings in Game 5 of IPL6 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Chepauk on Saturday.

After the agony of losing by two runs in their opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai stunned Chennai who came tantalisingly close to chase down a target 149 after a hurricane knock of 51 off 26 with five boundaries and three sixes from Dhoni.

But as destiny would have it, Pollard took a match-winning catch to dismiss Dhoni off the first ball of the last over bowled by Munaf Patel.

It capped a magnificent all-round performance by the West Indian who struck 57 off 38 to help Mumbai Indians post a decent total of 148 for six.

Mumbai having elected to bat first were tottering at 83 for six after 12 overs before Pollard and Harbhajan led a fine rearguard action with a 65-run unfinished seventh wicket stand.

Dhoni was also called up to perform a similar act after they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Dhoni walked into the middle when Chennai were four down for 58 after 10.2 overs.

The Chennai skipper cut a forlorn figure as wickets tumbled at the other end.

He kept them in the hunt with his power-packed boundary hits to bring the required rate which was soaring above 12 an over to a manageable level.

He shielded the tail-enders by turning down singles in the last few overs to guide Chennai to victory.

It took a brilliant catch from Pollard who plucked a ball which was sailing for a six which ended an equally wonderful innings from Dhoni and silenced the home fans in Chennai.

Munaf Patel finished with figures of three for 29 while Harbhahan and Ojha claimed two wickets apiece.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS

Has Pollard taken the match-winning catch as Dhoni tried to clear the boundary.

Dhoni's sensational innings comes to an end as Pollard take a brilliant catch on the line off Munaf's first ball in the last over.

MS Dhoni c Pollard b Patel 51 (26b 5x4 3x6)

Munaf to bowl the last over with Dhoni on strike.

Dhoni has slammed a six off Johnson's fifth delivery to bring up his fifty off just 24 balls with five boundaries and three sixes.

Dhoni turns down singles to retain the strike.

Johnson to bowl the penultimate over to Dhoni and begins with a wide.

Pollard has struck another blow bowling Laughlin as Chennai lose their eighth wicket with 23 needed off 13 balls.

B Laughlin b Pollard 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Dhoni has punched Pollard through the covers with a classic cover drive to win the battle over the West Indian who has bowled two wides.

A litte bit of gamesmanship going on between Pollard and Dhoni as they back away just before the ball is delivered.

Dhoni has smashed a towering six over long-off followed by a boundary to midwicket off Pollard in the 18th over to keep alive Chennai's hopes.

Ashwin tries to hit Harbhajan out of the ground but only sends it straight down the throat of Pollard in the deep.

R Ashwin c Pollard b Harbhajan 2 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Dhoni has whacked a low full toss from Harbhajan for a massive six in the 17th over.

Mumbai have the edge but as long as Dhoni is there in the middle Chennai still have hopes of achieving victory.

Jadeja has steered the first ball of a new over from Munaf to the fence and is bowled next ball dragging the ball onto his stumps attempting to heave him out of the ground.

RA Jadeja b Patel 16 (11b 1x4 1x6)

Jadeja slams Harbhajan back over his head for a massive six while Dhoni hit a low full toss straight down the ground in the 15th over.

Dhoni has smashed consecutive boundaries off Pollard cutting him over short third man followed by a scorching cover drive in the 14th over.

Chennai need a big partnership from Dhoni and Jadeja to put their run chase back on track.

The boundaries have dried up for Chennai while the required rate has gone up to almost 12 an over.

Ojha strikes in his fourth over trapping Badrinath leg before as Dhoni looks disconsolately from the other end.

S Badrinath lbw b Ojha 16 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Sharma saves a certain boundary to tighten the screws on Chennai.

Mumbai The required rate for Chennai is also mounting to 10 an over.

CSK skipper Dhoni has walked into a familiar crisis situation as Mumbai bowl with tails up.

Chennai are in deep trouble being four down for 58 chasing a target of 149.

Dinesh Karthik hangs on to an edge on his second attempt after a bit of juggle to dismiss Bravo off Ojha.

He was dropped by Ponting in the previous delivery.

D Bravo c Karthik b Ojha 10 (17b 0x4 0x6)

Badrinath hits his first boundary off Pollard's first over as CSK are 58 for three after 10 overs.

It's an uphill struggle for the hosts with Hussey perishing trying to force the pace after being pegged in by the spinners.

Chennai are in a spin as Hussey departs swinging and missing a delivery from Harbhajan which rattles his stumps.

M Hussey b Harbhajan 20 (23b 3x4 0x6)

All-out spin offensive by Mumbai as Ojha also comes into the attack.

Hussey has stepped out driven Harbhajan over extra cover for his third boundary.

Spin introduced after five overs with Harbhajan into the attack.

A good over by Johnson who asks question and is rewarded with Raina's wicket and also nearly gets Bravo.

Johnson's strikes in his third over as Raina gets an inside edge which loops to Ponting at point.

S Raina c Ponting b Johnson 10 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Hussey cracks Munaf through point as Chennai are back on track after the early setback.

Raina hits his first boundary in the fourth over driving Munaf down the ground.

Hussey is dropped by Sharma at first slip, the second life for the Australian.

Hussey hits the first boundary of the Chennai innings flicking Johnson to square leg.

Chennai off to a similar start as Mumbai.

Munaf Patel has struck with the last delivery of the second over castling Murali Vijay.

M Vijay b Patel 5 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Harbhajan and Pollard smashed a six each in the final over from Bravo as Mumbai Indian reached 148 for six after opting to bat first in Game Five of IPL6 against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Saturday.

It was a magnificent recovery by Mumbai Indian spearheaded by West Indian Kierron Pollard who remained unbeaten on 57.

Pollard thumped five sixes and four boundaries facing 38 balls.

Harbhajan was not out on 21 hitting a six and a boundary.

Mumbai got off to a shock start with Tendulkar being dismissed for a golden duck and skipper Ponting departing with just 17 on the board.

Dinesh Karthik also hit a belligerent 37 off 25 balls with four boundaries and a six before being trapped leg before by Bravo.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and they were tottering at 83-6 after 12 overs.

Pollard took charge thereafter collaring the bowlers with some massive hits.

He found an ably ally in Harbhajan as they added 65 in eight overs to bring some respectability to the Mumbai innings.

Bravo finished two for 44 which Nannes, Rajpoot, Laughlin and Ashwin picked up a wicket apiece.

MUMBAI INDIAN INNINGS

Pollard completed his fifty off 35 balls with four sixes and four boundaries.

Pollards hits his fourth six cracking Ashwin over extra cover in the 17th over. He is on 45 off 33 balls.

Pollard has gone for the maximum smashing Bravo over long on for his third six.

Great contest going on between West Indians Pollard and Bravo.

Pollard is flaying the Chennai attack smashing a huge six off Ashwin over long on.

Pollard is continuing to wage a lone battle whacking left arm spinner Jadeja for a six two balls after offering a sharp return catch which was dropped.

Mumbai seem unable to get out of the hole with Dwayne Smith lofting Ashwin straight down the throat of Bravo.   

D Smith c Bravo b Ashwin 3 (5b 0x4 0x6)
 
MI are losing wickets are regular intervals.

Mumbai Indians are crumbling as Nannes take a well judged catch at third man to dismiss Rayudu.

A Rayudu c Nannes b Laughlin 7 (10b 0x4 0x6)

Chennai in control of the proceedings at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk at the halfway stage with Mumbai tottering at 72-4.

Spin has been introduced with Jadeja into the attack as CSK aim to tighten the screws.

Pollard has smashed consecutive boundaries off Bravo in the ninth over.

Karthik clipped Bravo for a boundary to midwicket but is adjudged leg before next ball with the umpire thinking taking his time to lift his finger.

D Karthik lbw b Bravo 37 (25b 4x4 1x6)

Bravo has struck a deadly blow in his second over to have Mumbai reeling at 59-4 after 8.2 overs.

Dhoni takes a brilliant catch diving to his left to dismiss Sharma as Dwayne Bravo strikes with his first delivery.

R Sharma c Dhoni b Bravo 8 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Raina fails to hang on to a tough chance at cover but Karhtik shrugs off the chance by smashing the first six of the match off Rajpoot over square leg.

Karthik has pounced on a loose delivery from Rajpoot to smash it through midwicket for his second boundary.

Former Australia pacer and Kolkata Knight Riders star Brett Lee has tweeted: "Can't believe the great man Sachin out first ball, now Ponting @IPL." (‏@BrettLee_58)

Mumbai would have been in deeper trouble had Rajpoot held on to a catch from Sharma (5) off Nannes in the fifth over.

Unheralded Ankit Rajpoot has taken the big wicket of Australian legend Ricky Ponting caught at slip by Ashwin.

R Ponting c Ashwin b Rajpoot 6 (10b 0x4 0x6)

What a sensational start to Nannes' IPL career at CSK.

Mohandas Menon has tweeted "Sachin Tendulkar has 3 DUCKS in IPL before this one at Chennai but each time Mumbai Indians won the game!" (‏@mohanstatsman)

Karthik hits the first boundary of the match punching Rajpoot through the covers in the second over.

Tendulkar appears unhappy with the decision walking slowly back to the pavilion after the umpire takes his time though replays showed the ball heading towards leg stump.

Nannes has stunned Mumbai Indians dismissing Tendulkar with his fifth delivery for a golden duck.

S Tendulkar lbw b Nannes 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Batting legends Ponting and Tendulkar open the innings for Mumbai against Dirk Nannes.

Mumbai Indians have won the toss and have opted to bat first in Match Five of IPL6 against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Saturday.

Mumbai will once again be without pace spearhead Lasith Malinga.

Hussey, Nannes, Bravo and Laughlin are the four overseas players for CSK.

Mumbai have brought in Dwayne Smith for Oram and they have also replaced Bumrah with Ojha.

Mumbai Indians lost their opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by two runs in Bangalore.

Teams

Chennai Super Kings - M Vijay, M Hussey, S Raina, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), R Jadeja, D Bravo, R Ashwin, D Nannes, B Laughlin, A Rajpoot

Mumbai Indians - R Ponting (captain), S Tendulkar, D Karthik (wk), R Sharma, A Rayudu, K  Pollard, D Smith, M Johnson, H Singh, M Patel, P Ojha
 

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