IPL History: 5 greatest matches between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings

#3 CSK survive Pollard scare: Mumbai, 2010

Chennai Super Kings

With an eye on their first IPL trophy, both teams locked horns in the final of the third edition. Mumbai had proved to be the team of the tournament with the help of a remarkable season for Sachin Tendulkar with the bat. New stars in Ambati Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary and Kieron Pollard were unearthed through the course of the tournament, which made them the team to beat.

On the other hand, Chennai looked forward to putting behind the disappointment of the last-ball defeat they suffered at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in the final of the inaugural season.

Chennai batted first and after a slow start, recovered remarkably well through a blazing 35-ball unbeaten 57 by Suresh Raina and cameos from MS Dhoni and Albie Morkel, to reach a competitive 168/5 in their 20 overs. Mumbai were dealt a blow in the early stages of CSK's innings when their skipper and the Orange Cap holder Sachin Tendulkar split a webbing in his right hand while fielding.

Sachin did come out to bat, however, he didn't look at his best because of the injury, and laboured his way to a 45-ball 48. Mumbai made a host of questionable decisions throughout their innings, like sending Abhishek Nayar at Number 3, who could never get going, and Harbhajan Singh at Number 4, who just stayed for just 2 deliveries.

The asking rate kept on mounting and there was no sign of Kieron Pollard, who had been sensational throughout the tournament but was presumably being safeguarded from CSK's spinners on a relatively slow track.

However, the move backfired miserably on Mumbai because, by the time Pollard came out to bat at Number 8 (yes, you read that right!), the equation had become an improbable 55 from 18 balls. He got going immediately, plundering 22 runs from the 18th over bowled by Doug Bollinger.

However, some smart field placing by MS Dhoni ensured that Pollard departed in the penultimate over for a 10-ball 27, taking Mumbai's hopes with him, and giving CSK their maiden IPL triumph.