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 f