Chennai fall to Bhajji

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings fade away against Mumbai Indians under Wankhede

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings fade away against Mumbai Indians under Wankhede

Rohit Sharma, who starred with the bat for Mumbai Indians

Man of the match Harbhajan Singh took three wickets in an over ensuring Chennai Super Kings did not achieve the target of 165 set by Mumbai Indians. The star spinner took five wickets for only 18 runs.

Mumbai Indians' Andrew Symonds (right) congratulates Harbhajan Singh
on his stunning bowling performance against Chennai Super Kings at the
Wankhede Stadium yesterday. Pics/Suresh KK

Rohit Sharma did full justice to his $2 million price tag. He first dazzled everyone with some amazing strokeplay as he powered his way to 87 runs (8x4s, 5x6s) helping Mumbai Indians post 164 for four after a disastrous start against Chennai Super Kings. The young star then took two catches, ufffd Murali Vijay followed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, helping Mumbai Indians avenge last IPL final's defeat with a memorable win over Dhoni's men. CSK finished with 156 for nine in 20 overs.u00a0 MI's head-to-head record against CSK improved to 4:3.

Chennai Super Kings were off in a flash in their chase. Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay scored at almost 10 runs per over. They were 31 in 3.4 overs before Munaf Patel produced a stunning leg cutter to dismiss Vijay caught at slips by Rohit for 12.

Blow
Suresh Raina's wicket (5) in the next over disrupted their momentum further. Hussey however, steadied the ship along with S Badrinath. And just when it seemed that CSK were cruising to victory, Mr Cricket played an uppish shot off Lasith Malinga in the 11th over having scored 41 runs, and Kieron Pollard scooped it at midwicket.

In the next over, Pollard got the big wicket of Dhoni for three. The CSK skipper, eyeing square the leg fence, got a leading edge and Rohit dived full length to pluck it. The defending champions never really recovered from that blow as wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals even as S Badrinath, who remained unbeaten on 71 runs, kept going from one end.

No worries
There were concerns over Mumbai Indians' middle order, which had not been tested in the IPL so far. But Rohit rose to the occasion to put to rest all those apprehensions. Rohit, who has been showing glimpses of returning to top form in the previous games, guided the team well after losing skipper Sachin Tendulkar (5) and R Sathish (0) early.

Rohit played as straight as possible and rarely mistimed the ball. It was controlled aggression from the youngster. Ambati Rayudu chipped in with 27. Rohit along with his former Deccan Chargers teammate Andrew Symonds (31 not out) put up a partnership of 87 runs in 49 balls that was crucial in Mumbai Indians' fine result.
Scoreboard
Mumbai Indians
R Sathish c Anirudha b Morkel 0
S Tendulkar c Hussey b Bollinger 5
A Rayudu st Dhoni b Randiv 27
R Sharma c Hussey b Bollinger 87 Andrew Symonds not out 31
Kieron Pollard not out 0.
Extras: (B1, Lb1, W12) 14.
Total: (for 4 wkts in 20 overs) 164.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-13, 3-74, 4-161. Bowling:
Morkel 4-1-19-1
Bollinger 4-0-30-2
Joginder 3-0-34-0
Ashwin 4-0-26-0
Randiv 3-0-31-1
Raina 2-0-22-0

Chennai Super Kings
M Hussey c Pollard b Malingau00a0 41
M Vijayu00a0 c Sharma b Patelu00a0 12
S Rainau00a0 c & b Harbhajan 5
S Badrinathu00a0 not outu00a0 71
MS Dhoni c Sharma b Pollardu00a0 3
S Anirudha c Sathish b H'bhajan 9
JA Morkelu00a0 b Harbhajan 3
R Ashwinu00a0 c Pollard b Harbhajan 0
Joginder Sharmau00a0 c & b H'bhajan 0
S Randivu00a0 c Sathish b Malingau00a0 2
D Bollingeru00a0 not outu00a0 0
Extras: (Lb1, W8, Nb 1) 10u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Total: (9 wickets; 20 overs) 156
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-38, 3-98, 4-101, 5-123, 6-136, 7-136, 8-137, 9-140
Bowling:
Munaf 4-0-40-1
Malinga 4-0-20-2
Ahmed 2-0-19-0
Harbhajan 4-0-18-5
Sharma 1-0-15-0
Pollard 4-0-30-1
Sathish 1-0-13-0

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