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CSK vs MI: Rohit Sharma sets it up as Mumbai Indians beat MS Dhoni-less Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai Indians rode on skipper Rohit Sharma’s 67, his first half-century of the ongoing IPL, to post 155 for four and then bundled out Chennai Super Kings for 109 in 17.4 overs.
It’s tough to imagine Chennai Super Kings without MS Dhoni. And if it’s against Mumbai Indians, his colleagues seem to have a brain freeze. A similar plot played out on Friday.
After a patient 48-ball 67 by skipper Rohit Sharma guided MI to a fighting 155/4 on a slow track at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the CSK batsmen wilted under pressure to lose by 46 runs. Lasith Malinga finished with figures of 4/37.
This was CSK’s first defeat at their home ground since 2015. Their last defeat in Chennai too came against MI. However, the hosts can afford the odd stumble as they lead the table and are virtually through to the play-offs.
There was surprise at the toss as Suresh Raina came for the hosts and Dhoni, who has spoken about the need to protect his dodgy back with the World Cup approaching, was not available due to fever. But in every Raina move, Dhoni’s stamp was evident.
READ: MS Dhoni misses IPL 2019 match against Mumbai Indians - Here’s Why
Raina’s bowling changes in particular showed that. Like in the previous matches here, Deepak Chahar combined with Harbhajan Singh in the powerplay. It was followed by a healthy dash of spin bowling in the form of leg-spinner Imran Tahir from one end and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, playing in place of Ravindra Jadeja, from the other. The last overs were kept for Dwayne Bravo and Chahar.
CSK has followed this code every time in Chepauk this season, and no team had been able to break it. With Rohit at the top, MI looked prepared for CSK’s ploy. They waited for the loose balls, like the short of length deliveries by Chahar in the third over, or the flat ones by Harbhajan.
What resulted was a healthy run rate despite the loss of their most in-form batsman Quinton de Kock in the third over. Rohit and No 3 Evin Lewis added 75 off 56 balls, and it looked their patience was paying dividends on the slow track.
READ: IPL 2019: ‘Keep me out of your mouth’ - Dinda hits back after RCB faux pas
Lewis fell in the 13th over and Krunal Pandya followed the next over, but Rohit continued to take his chances. The 16th over by Tahir yielded 16 runs as Rohit went on the rampage. It seemed MI were on course for a big total, but Rohit’s dismissal off Santner put the brakes on MI. Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard struggled to get going and added only 33 runs in the last 22 deliveries.
But another experienced MI hand Lasith Malinga was waiting to show his magic. It took him just five balls to deceive Shane Watson, who holed out to Chahar at short fine leg. In Dhoni’s absence, Raina was expected to lead by example. Instead, he gave an easy catch to Suryakumar Yadav off Hardik at backward point. Spinners Krunal and Anukul Roy shared three wickets as CSK were five down inside 10 overs.
Murali Vijay, playing his first match, held one end up but when he was caught brilliantly by Suryakumar Yadav off Jasprit Bumrah, it was all but over for CSK.
