INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | MOST SIXES IN A MATCH: 42 SIXES WERE HIT IN KKR VS PBKS MATCH
MATCH TODAY – SRH VS KKR AT 3:30 PM | PBKS VS GT AT 7:30 PM
Chennai, May 2: Chennai Super Kings produced a thoroughly professional display to outclass Mumbai Indians by eight wickets in a critical Indian Premier League match and significantly boost their playoff prospects here on Saturday.
Afghanistan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad led a disciplined bowling effort to help CSK restrict a lacklustre Mumbai Indians to 159 for seven.
Noor returned excellent figures of 2/26 in four overs while Anshul Kamboj grabbed 3/32, even as Naman Dhir top-scored for MI with 57 off 37 balls in an insipid display by the visitors after winning the toss.
Captain Hardik Pandya consumed 23 balls for his 18, reflecting MI’s struggles.
Pandya’s counterpart Ruturaj Gaikwad then led by example with an unbeaten 48-ball 67 and he was well supported by Kartik Sharma (54 not out off 40 balls) and Urvil Patel (24 off 12 balls).
In the chase, CSK’s man in form Sanju Samson was quick off the blocks with a couple of boundaries but Jasprit Bumrah cut short his stay with a beautiful outswinger that took the outside edge and Ryan Rickelton dived to right his to grab the ball.
Samson, who punched Bumrah through covers in the previous delivery, paid the price for his lack of foot movement.
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed Trent Boult for a six over deep square-leg as 17 runs came off the third over.Krish Bhagat leaked 18 runs with Urvil Patel hitting him for two sixes and a four before Ruturaj got a maximum against AM Ghazanfar.Ghazanfar, though, dismissed Patel as the batter played the ball on to his stumps.Gaikwad and Sharma then took CSK home.
Earlier, Mukesh Choudhary started the proceedings for CSK on an excellent note, conceding just one run in the opening over and then IPL debutant Ramakrishna made immediate impact with a stunning catch to send back Will Jacks in the second over bowled by Anshul Kamboz.
Off a length ball outside off, Jacks stepped out and tried to hoick but failed to connect as Ramakrishna ran in from deep backward point and dived to complete the catch, leaving the crowd at MA Chidambaram Stadium delighted.
With their campaigns hanging by a thread following a string of disappointing outings, there was a lot riding on this contest for both MI and CSK, and the latter delivered when it mattered. MI, though, are still not out mathematically.
MI’s first boundary was unconvincing as the ball flew off Naman Dhir’s bat down to deep fine leg after the batter tried to flick it.
However, the in-form Rickelton smoked Mukesh for two successive sixes — one over extra cover and and another over deep midwicket to set the ball rolling for MI.Naman got into the act as he hit Kamboj for a maximum. (PTI)
BRIEF SCORES
Mumbai Indians: 159 for 7 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 37, Naman Dhir 57; Noor Ahmed 2/26, Anshul Kamboj 3/32).
Chennai Super Kings: 160 for 2 in 18.1 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 67 not out, Urvil Patel 24, Kartik Sharma 54 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 1/20).
