Sharma ripped through Mumbai’s batting line-up
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum smashed a spectacular half-century and India pace bowler Mohit Sharma claimed four wickets to help the Chennai Super Kings crush the Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in Dubai.
Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma would have been brooding over his decision to bat first after opening batsman Michael Hussey was clean bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus for one run.
Aditya Tare managed to score 23 runs before he was caught by Suresh Raina at mid-on off the bowling of Mohit Sharma.
New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson and Sharma stabilised the innings with an 84-run partnership before Anderson was run out by Ravichandran Ashwin for 39.
Sharma went on to score his half-century, but failed to add another run as he was caught by Dwayne Smith at deep midwicket off the bowling of Hilfenhaus.
Sharma’s fantastic knock of 50 came off 41 balls and included three boundaries and two sixes.
Ambati Rayudu only made one run before he was caught by Raina at long-on off the bowling of Sharma.
Sharma struck again just three balls later when he rearranged Kieron Pollard’s stumps.
Sharma got his third wicket of the over two balls later when Harbhajan Singh was caught by McCullum at point for a duck.
Mumbai eventually finished on 141/7 off their 20 overs.
Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Hilfenhaus chipped in with two.
Chasing 142 to win, Chennai got off to a superb start as their opening pair of Smith and McCullum amassed a 57-run partnership before Smith was caught by Anderson at cover off the bowling of Pragyan Ojha for 29.
Raina only made one run before he was stumped by Chidhambaram Gautam off the bowling of Singh.
South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis and McCullum turned things around with a 53-run partnership, during which McCullum brought up his half-century, before du Plessis was also stumped by Gautam off the bowling of Singh for 20 runs.
McCullum and Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai across the finish line with one over to spare.
McCullum finished on 71 off 53 balls, which included eight boundaries and two sixes, while Dhoni remained undefeated on 14 off 11 deliveries, which included one boundary and a six.
McCullum smashed eight boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten knock of 71
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Singh was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Ojha claimed one wicket.
Sharma was disappointed to have lost yet another game, and said: “That was the target, unfortunately we could not get to 160, I was a little disappointed. We did not start well, but we batted well in the middle but did not finish off well. It was a good batting track. 140 was not a big target. In the last three games we have not scored more than 140 which shows there is some work to do there. Bowlers have done well in all the three games.”
Dhoni was pleased with his team’s performance, and said: “The death bowling was superb. In the middle overs they had a partnership going which meant we were under a bit of pressure which meant the bowlers had to step up. We were not sure how the wicket would play in the second half. Last game we played here we realised the slower one works really well, but you had to hit the right areas which Mohit did. If Dwayne Smith gets going, McCullum takes a backseat and if there is a change in momentum, McCullum takes charge. They have complemented each other very well. Following them we have got Raina and du Plessis, we have good firepower to capitalise.”
Sharma was named Man of the Match for his four wickets, and said: “Captain said ‘the wicket was on the slower side, don’t bowl the same pace, mix it up, it is hard to hit the slower one on this surface’. When you bowled quicker, the ball came on and was easier to hit. It was not easy to hit when you mix up your pace. We bowled well at the death and they were not able to get as many as they would have wanted to. But 140 was still a good score. McCullum and Smith batted well. The wickets here are similar to India.”