CHENNAI: Defending champions Chennai Super Kings be'gan their campaign on a disastrous note losing to Mu'mbai Indians by eight wickets in the inaugural match of the IPL 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Wednesday. Put in to bat the Dhoni led side could muster only 112 in 19.5 overs.
Harbhajan Singh leading MI for the first time in the IPL did a good job in marshalling his side and maintained the pressure till the very end.
Pragyan Ojha's 2 for 17 wh'ere he accounted for the prize wickets of Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo enabled Mumbai Indians to restrict CSK. He was ably supported by Kieron Pollard (2-15) and Lasinth Mallinga (2-16).
Later, a hard hitting 35 ball 50 by Richard Levi and an unbeaten 25 by James Franklin enabled MI to reach target with 19 balls to spare.
Ambati Rayudu's upper cut off Bolli'nger for a six to third man si'gnalled MI's win and CSK's plight. Levi true to his reputation did not disappoint the crowd. he pulled, cut with reli'sh and his effortless six off Jadeja and Ashwin made the crowd stand on its feet.
After reaching his 50 he played away from the body to hit Bravo straight to Bollinger at long off. He added 69 runs for the first wicket with Tendulkar, who retired at 16 after getting a blow on his fingers off a flier from Bollinger.
During his brief stay he on'ce ste'pped out to cart Morkel over the extra-cover fence to send the packed crowd into ruptures.
CSK paid the price for unnecessarily putting pressure on themselves and were outplayed in all the departments by MI. Their shot selection was pathetic, running between wickets horrible (three run-outs).
Overall they succu'mbed to the pressure. It was indeed a meek surrender on a none too threatening wicket.
The wicket offered varied bounce and this was intelligen'tly used by the MI slow bowlers. Ojha a new recruit of MI put up a commendable displ'ay.
He accounted for a well settled Raina which was the tu'rning point of the match. After Raina's dismissal at 75 for 3, CSK lost seven wickets for the addition of only 37 ru'ns. Raina (36) and Bravo (19) fell in similar fashion to Ojha caught in the deep while going for an ambitious hit wi'thout timing the ball properly.
Full marks to Harbhajan for shuffling the bowlers well and maintaining the pressure.
Raina during his brief stay timed the ball well. His shot over long off for a six off Abu was a delight to watch.
Bravo began well notching up two successive boundaries off Franklin to show his intent. But he to succumbed to pressure in order to up the run rate. Thereafter none of the CSK batsmen showed any resistance.
Dhoni was not comfortable in his stay and was finally run out. Earlier, CSK had a disastrous start losing F du Plessis the very fourth ball of the game.
Vijay pushed to extra cover and called Plessis for a sharp single which was not there. Rayudu's throw beat Plessis as the South Africa returned back disappointed for just three.
Chennai Super Kings surprisingly included F du Plessis when one expected Anirudha to play.
Similarly Jakati held on to his place as a third spinner in place of a probable seamer. MI opted for Abu instead of new recruit RP Singh. Gibbs made way for Levi.
