IPL: 5 best Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians encounters

#4 Match 8, April 23, 2008

Matthew Hayden was the man of the match

This was the first ever game between these two sides. In the 2008 edition of the IPL, these two teams were considered to be the strongest on paper. A lot of drama was expected in this clash as Dhoni's side was taking on Harbhajan's side in Chennai. The Chennai Super Kings were batting first on a flat pitch.

Despite the fall of two early wickets Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina played aggressively to add 104 runs together. Hayden scored 81 off 46 balls. The Chennai skipper provided the late flurry by scoring 30 off 16 deliveries. The Super Kings scored 208. Mumbai Indians had little hope of chasing the massive total.

The Mumbai Indians were determined to chase the target. Mumbai lost two early wickets as they were trying to accelerate. Robin Uthappa played the anchor's role to bring his side closer to the target. Manpreet Gony stopped the flow of runs with his economical bowling performance.

The chasing team required 62 off the last four overs. The task was close to impossible before Abhishek Nayar provided the men in blue with a little bit of hope. Nayar smashed 21 runs off Amarnath's over. In the next over, Mumbai Captain Harbhajan Singh hit two sixes off Jacob Oram. With 28 runs required from the last two overs, Muralidharan pulled things back by giving away just nine runs in the penultimate over. He also picked the wicket of Harbhajan.

Joginder Sharma had the ball in hand for the final over. His last over heroics in the 2007 World T20 final will be etched in the heart of every Indian fan. Sharma bowled a good last over to reduce the Mumbai Indians to 202. Matthew Hayden was awarded the man of the match award for his innings of 81.