A brilliant unbeaten century stand for the second wicket handed Mumbai Indians a commanding nine-wicket victory in the Indian Premier League over the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav struck 114 runs from just 54 balls to lead Mumbai to 177 for one with 26 balls to spare in response to Chennai’s 176 for five after Mumbai Indians had won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Sharma struck four boundaries and six maximums from 45 balls to end unbeaten on 76 while Yadav’s unbeaten 68 from 30 deliveries included six fours and five sixes. Sharma and Ryan Rickelton (24) laid a solid platform with an opening stand of 63.
The South African opener struck three fours and a six from 19 balls before launching Ravindra Jadeja (3-0-28-1) towards Ayush Mhatre on the deep-mid-wicket fence. However, the loss of Rickelton did not deter the home side as Sharma turned back the clock with some delightful stroke play.
While Sharma moved the ball all around the park, Yadav favoured the area behind square on the leg-side as well as the long-off region. Sharma flicked the ball well off hid pads, picking up 19 runs including two sixes while Yadav swept well, picking up 25 runs with three fours and two sixes.
Khaleel Ahmed (2-0-24-0) and Jamie Overton (2-0-29-0) did not have the best of opening spells and Sharma and Rickelton raced to 63 from 40 balls in the opening stand. Ravichandran Ashwin (4-0-25-0) was the only bowler who could hold his head high while Noor Ahmed (3-0-36-0) and Matheesha Pathirana (1.4-0-34-0) were given a royal bashing.
Earlier, half-centuries from Jadeja (53 not out) and Shivam Dube (50) gave the visitors something to defend, although in hindsight, not nearly enough. Shaik Rasheed (19) and Rachin Ravindra (5) did not give the visitors a good start.
Ravindra edged Ashwani Kumar (2-0-42-1) through to Rickelton behind the stumps while Rickelton was quick to whip the bails off to see the back of Rasheed from the bowling of Mitch Santner (3-0-14-1).
Mhatre managed four boundaries and two sixes from just 15 balls but then slapped Deepak Chahar (4-0-32-1) straight to Santner on the long-on fence. Jadeja and Dube managed to add 79 from 50 balls for the fourth wicket before Jasprit Bumrah (4-0-25-2) broke the stand, having Dube caught by Will Jacks on the mid-wicket fence.
Bumrah accounted for MS Dhoni (4) with Jadeja and Overton (4 not out) seeing out the innings.
The win moves Mumbai to eight points from as many games while Chennai remain rooted to the foot of the table with just two wins from eight starts.
MUMBAI INDIANS: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: Shaik Rasheed, Rachin Ravindra, Ayush Mhatre, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana (capt & wk), Noor, Khaleel, Pathirana