IPL
Chennai/UNI: After the bowlers did their job, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batters overhauled the target in style as they thrashed Mumbai Indians by six wickets in the IPL match at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday.
When CSK won the toss and chose to field, none expected that the contest would fizzle out into a one-sided affair considering the strong batting line up of MI.
Once the bowlers rose in unison, CSK batters pressed home the advantage to guide the team for its sixth win in 11 matches.
Earlier asked to bat first, MI were restricted to 139 for eight and the home favourites CSK overhauled it without much ado, reaching 140 for four in 17.4 overs, and jumped to the second spot in the points table with 13 points (six wins in 11 matches), behind title winners Gujarat Titans (14 points).
Mumbai Indians suffered their fifth defeat in 10 games and were placed sixth in the points table. CSK top order batsmen scored the bulk of runs shutting MI out of the contest, as the four time winners scored 55 for 1 in power play and 84 for two at the halfway stage.
In fact the top three batsmen took the stuff out of MI bowlers as Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 30, Devon Conway 44 and Ajinkya Rahane 21, knocking off almost 70 per cent of the target, before the middle order consolidated it pressed home the advantage, despite leg spinner Piyush Chawla picking up two wickets.
Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (30, 16 balls, 4x4, 2x6) and left hander Devon Conway (44, 42 balls, 4x4) added 46 for the first wicket in just 4.1 overs as Ruturaj hammered medium pacer Arshad Khan for 20 runs in his first over, the third of CSK innings, hitting two sixers and two fours as CSK reached 50 in five overs.
After he fell to the first ball of leggie Piyush Chawla's first over, Ajinkya Rahane (21, 17 balls, 1x4, 1x6) reduced the leeway with a 35-run stand in 4.5 overs with Conway.
Rahane and impact player Ambati Rayudu (12, 11 balls, 1x6) fell in the space of 3.5 overs. But by the time CSK reached 105 for three in 12.5 overs. and 123 for 3 in 15 overs, requiring just 17 runs in the last five overs.
However, Conway continued to pace the chase well, and fell short of his half century. But by then, CSK was assured of a win.
Southpaw Shivam Dube, who hit three sixers, including two in one over of spinner Ragav Goyal, and skipper MS Dhoni, who walked out to chants of "Dhoni, Dhoni", by the packed yellow brigade at the stadium, took the CSK past the finishing line with 2.2 overs to spare, rather comfortably.
And fittingly much to the wishes of the crowd, Dhoni scored the winning run.
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