Lasith Malinga returned with a five-wicket haul but Chennai Super Kings still went on to post a challenging 173 for eight against Mumbai Indians in an inconsequential Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20.
Even before the first ball was bowled, the match was rendered a deadrubber after Lions notched up a five-wicket victory over Yorkshire today to become the second team from Group B to reach the semifinals, thus knocking out both Chennai and Mumbai Indians.
However, CSK openers du Plessis (52) and Murali Vijay (39) lifted the spirit of the spectators who had thronged the New Wanderers stadium as they notched up an entertaining 86-run opening stand in just 49 balls, studded with 10 fours and three sixes.
The opening duo laid the foundation for a big score but Malinga spoiled their party as he notched up a five-wicket haul in his four overs.
The Sri Lankan pacer dismissed du Plessis, Suresh Raina (8), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35), Albie Morkel (0) and Wriddiman Saha (5) to break the backbone of their innings.
Pragyan Ojha brought the first break through when he cleaned up Vijay after the Tamil Nadu batsman danced down the pitch in pursuit of another big hit.
But Malinga struck twice in two balls, removing du Plessis and Raina to reduce them to 101 for three in 10.5 overs.
Dhoni (35), who survived a run-out chance early in his innings, provided a much-needed spark with an entertaining 19-ball 35, laced with three fours and two sixes, before becoming a victim of Malinga.
Once the captain was back in the pavillion, rest of the batsmen tried to accelarate and even though they perished in regular intervals, they did enough to help Chennai put up a challenging score on board.
Earlier, Vijay blasted Ojha for an inside out shot over cover for the first six of the innings in the fifth ball. du Plessis then went berserk against Mitchell Johnson, picking up two fours and a six in the last three balls of the third over.
Vijay too continued his rampage, blasting Dhawal Kulkarni for a six over midwicket and consecutive fours at the covers and point area in the next over as CSK raised 15 runs.
Malinga was then introduced into the attack but du Plessis didn't pay any respect to the bowler and clobbered him for three overs to take Chennai to 62 for no loss in 5 overs.
Johnson gave away four runs in the next over, while Ojha conceded nine runs, which included a four by Vijay.
MI skipper Harbhajan Singh then brought himself into the attack but Vijay picked up two fours in the fourth and fifth ball to take his team to 86-0.
Mumbai clawed back after that with the help of Malinga as runs dried out and wickets started to tumble.
However, Dhoni kept the scoreboard ticking and picked up a four and six at the deep backward point to help Chennai accumulate 13 runs of the 14th over.
In the 17th over, Dhoni picked up a six and a four in the first two ball but Malinga cut his innings short when he had him caught at backward point by Smith.
In the final over, R Ashwin blasted a four and six over over third man off the last ball to swell Chennai's total to 173-8. (PTI)
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 173 for 8 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 52, Murali Vijay 39, MS Dhoni 35; Lasith Malinga 5 for 32) vs Mumbai Indians
No comments:
Post a Comment