Mumbai (Maharashtra) : Ajinkya Rahane turned back the clock with an impeccable half-century mixing class and explosiveness, helping Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secure a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
With this win, CSK has jumped to fourth position in the points table with two wins and a loss and four points. On the other hand, MI is at eighth position in the points table, having lost both of their games so far.
In chase of 158 runs, Jason Behrendorff delivered a huge blow to CSK, castling Devon Conway for a duck. CSK was 0/1 in 0.4 overs.
The game picked up pace in the fourth over bowled by Arshad Khan, in which the bowler was smashed by Ajinkya Rahane for 6,4,4,4,4,1. The over gave away a total of 23 runs.
Rahane was dealing in boundaries and sixes, smashing a pull over deep-midwicket to bring up his side’s 50 in 4.3 overs.
The veteran middle-order batter lit up the stadium, hitting Piyush Chawla for two straight fours to bring up his 50 in just 19 balls, consisting of six fours and three sixes.
At the end of the powerplay in six overs, CSK was at 68/1, with Rahane (53*) and Gaikwad (8*) unbeaten.
Piyush Chawla put an end to an 82-run stand between Rahane-Gaikwad, dismissing the former for 61 off 27 balls, consisting of seven fours and three sixes after he was caught by Suryakumar Yadav at long-on. CSK was 82/2 in 8 overs.
Halfway through the innings, CSK was at 97/2 in ten overs, with Shivam Dube (9*) joining Ruturaj Gaikwad (20*) at the crease.
CSK crossed the 100-run mark in 10.4 overs.
Dube and Gaikwad started to build a partnership. But their stand was cut short to 43 runs after Kumar Kartikeya’s spin castled Dube while he attempted to cut. The batter had to go for 28 off 26 balls, consisting of two fours and a six. CSK was at 125/3 in 14.2 overs.
At the end of 15 overs, CSK was at 135/3, with Gaikwad (36*) and Ambati Rayadu (3*) unbeaten.
CSK crossed the 150-run mark in 17.3 overs.
The Men in Yellow completed their run chase successfully, finishing at 159/3 in 18.1 overs, with Gaikwad unbeaten at 40 off 36 balls consisting of three fours and a six and Rayadu at 20 off 16 balls with three fours.
Behrendorff, Chawla and Kartikeya took one wicket each.
Earlier, a fantastic show put up by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinners, led from the front by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, helped the visitors restrict Mumbai Indians (MI) to a modest 157/8 in their 20 overs of their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for CSK, taking 3/20 in his four overs. Santner and Deshpande took two while Magala took one.
Brief Scores: MI: 157/8 (Ishan Kishan 32, Tim David 31, Ravindra Jadeja 3/20) lost to CSK: 159/3 in 18.1 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 61, Ruturaj Gaikwad 40, Kumar Kartikeya 1/24).
