Johannesburg: Lasith Malinga’s five-wicket haul and Dinesh Karthik’s whirlwind 74 went in vain as Chennai Super Kings eked out a narrow six-run win over Mumbai Indians in an inconsequential Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 here on Saturday.
Even before the first ball was bowled, the match was rendered a dead-rubber after Highveld Lions notched up a five-wicket victory over Yorkshire earlier to become the second team from Group B to reach the semifinals, thus knocking out both Chennai and Mumbai Indians.
However, both the IPL teams ensured that the spectators at the New Wanderers stadium didn’t go back disappointed as they enthralled them with an edge-of-the-seat thriller which went down right to the wire.
Sent into bat, CSK openers du Plessis (52) and Murali Vijay (39) initially lifted the spirit of the spectators with an entertaining 86-run stand in just 49 balls, studded with 10 fours and three sixes.
However, Malinga spoilt 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 help Mumbai restrict Chennai to 173-8.
Karthik then led the Mumbai runchase with a scintillating 45-ball 74, which was studded with four fours and six sixes, and almost took them to the brink of victory. Pollard also blasted a 17-ball 31 with the help of one four and three sixes but MI still fell short by six runs in the end.
The credit goes to Man-of-the-Match, Ben Hilfenhaus (2/14) who led the bowling attack brilliantly. He was supported well by Albie Morkel (2/28) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/47) and part-timer Faf du Plessis (1/3). (PTI)