IPL 2018, CSK vs MI: Hits and Misses

After being put into bat, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got off to a sedate start as they scored 24 in their first four overs before Shane Watson was dismissed for a low score.

But Suresh Raina and the Orange Cap holder Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship. While Rayudu fell short of his third successive fifty (as he was out for 46) but Raina scored a very good half-century.

MS Dhoni once again was looking good but he fell for 26 in the 18th over as MI fought back really well to restrict CSK to 169.

Mumbai, in reply, got off to a good start as the openers put on a 69-run stand before Rohit Sharma came in and controlled the chase beautifully.

MI did lose their way at one point as a few good overs from the CSK pushed the required run rate up and the equation was down to 37 in three overs.

But Sharma played a captain’s innings and guided MI to their second win of the season.

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#5 Hit: Mitchell McClenaghan

Mitchell McClenaghan was excellent as he gave away just 26 runs and also picked two wickets

Despite being a little expensive, Mitchell McClenaghan has been among the wickets this season. The Kiwi fast bowler had six wickets in the four games he played in this season (before this one).

McClenaghan opened the bowling in this game and bowled a couple of overs in the powerplay where he was hit for 16 runs in his first two overs.

Rayudu had struck a six in the first over off McClenaghan while Shane Watson also was comfortable against the 31-year-old pacer.

However, he came back really well at the death as he dismissed Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo to halt CSK’s charge in the end overs. With a clear plan in place, for the CSK skipper, McClenaghan executed it well as he tried to go for a wide yorker.

Despite missing the mark, he was awarded a wicket as Dhoni holed out to deep cover. He then struck another blow as he dismissed Bravo for a golden duck.

After going for 16 in his first two overs, McClenaghan finished with 2/26 in his four overs.

#4 Miss: Mayank Markande

Mayank Markande was disappointing in today's game as he failed to pick up a wicket

Mayank Markande has been one of the stars of this IPL. He has been in the race for the Purple Cap right from the first game and also held it for a brief period of time.

He was picked ahead of Rahul Chahar in the plating XI and he justified his selection with some very good performances.

He has picked up 10 wickets in the first six games. The 20-year-old had also taken three wickets in his debut game (which was the first game of the season) against CSK which included that of Dhoni.

In this game, the Bathinda-born started his spell with a three-run over as he kept things relatively quiet.

But in his subsequent overs, he conceded 14 runs in each over as Markande finished with figures of 0/30.

He was hammered by Raina and Dhoni as both batsmen struck a four and a six in Markande's next couple of overs which forced Sharma to turn to his other bowlers.

#3 Hit: Suresh Raina

Raina's unbeaten 47-ball 75 comprised of six fours and four sixes

Raina who has been one of the best batsmen in the history of the IPL has not been in the best of forms in this IPL.

He started the tournament with a couple of failures before a calf injury forced him to miss his first CSK game.

But he came back well as he scored 100 runs in his next two innings before he fell for 11 in the last game. Thus, his form has been scratchy.

In this game, Raina walked in the 5th over of the innings and got off the mark with a six as he struck a slog-sweep over mid-wicket.

That set the tone for his innings as he rotated the strike very well and attacked the spinners. He raced off to 31 in 17 balls. But after Rayudu’s dismissal, he slowed down a little bit as he could manage only 12 runs off his next 14 deliveries.

However, he got going once again as he struck a couple of boundaries off Jasprit Bumrah in the 17th over and reached his second half-century of the season off 35 deliveries. He finished with an unbeaten 75 as he played a big part in CSK getting to 169.

#2 Miss: Shane Watson

Shane Watson disappointed with both bat and ball

Watson came into this season’s IPL in very good form. However, apart from the hundred he scored against Rajasthan Royals, Watson hasn’t quite delivered with the bat.

Once again in this game, he failed with the bat as he could only manage 11. Watson just hit one boundary in his 10-ball innings before he out trying to slog-sweep. His dismissal left CSK at 26/1.

With the ball, he leaked a lot of runs as he conceded 41 runs in his four overs and failed to pick up a wicket.

He started well as he displayed great control and gave away just 13 runs in his first two overs. However, the 36-year-old all-rounder gave a couple of sixes in his third over before leaking 15 runs in the 18th over.

Hence, it was not a great day for the former Aussie all-rounder as he failed to get going with the bat and also leaked a lot of runs at the death.

#1 Hit: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma promoted himself to No. 3 and struck a superb 56

There have been numerous calls for Sharma to promote himself to the opening slot. However, the Mumbai Indians skipper has time and again felt that with him batting at No. 4, MI get better stability in the middle order.

Chasing 170, MI got off to a good start as Suryakumar Yadav scored a brisk 44. But at the fall of his wicket, Sharma promoted himself to No. 3 and produced a match-winning innings. Coming into bat at 69/1, the visitors needed 101 runs in about 10 overs.

Initially, he looked to rotate strike and take the game close. But he struck a couple of sixes off Watson to get going.

That set the pace of the innings for Sharma as he timed the chase beautifully. He took the game deep and then targeted the 18th and 19th overs (MI needed 37 in three overs).

Along with Hardik Pandya, the MI skipper fetched 15 runs in the 18th over before plundering four boundaries off Shardul Thakur in the penultimate over to kill the chase.

And then the formalities were completed in the final over with MI winning it with two balls to spare.

Sharma ended with a fantastic 33-ball 56 (six fours and two sixes) and won the Man of the Match award.

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