Mumbai fail to defend middling score

Cricket365 11 May 2014

The Mumbai Indians were unable to defend an average score against the Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, losing by four wickets as Dwayne Smith's half century set the platform for a final-over win for CSK.

The defending champions, well below par this year, batted first and scored 157 for six, with Ambhati Rayudu's half ton the highlight. Chennai then made 160 for six, getting the final runs with three balls to spare.

Chennai won the toss and chose to field, and quickly got a wicket in the bag as Chidhambaram Gautam fell for single figures. Rayudu and Lendl Simmons then put on a half century stand over the next eight overs.

Simmons departed with the score on 77, the first of Ravi Ashwin's three wickets, having made 38 at a run a ball. Rohit Sharma then joined Rayudu and they took the score into triple figures.

Rohit was only able to contribute 19 though, and then Kieron Pollard was out for a first-ball duck. Rayudu then fell off the first ball of the next over, leaving the Mumbaikers reeling on 129 for five. Corey Anderson's quick 18 saw the score pushed above 150.

The chase was relatively steady for CSK, thanks to West Indian Smith, who opened the batting and stuck around for the fall of three wickets. Brendon McCullum and Suresh Raina were both out for teen scores.

Faf du Plessis then joined Smith and they pushed the score to 119, before Smith was out for 57. He was caught by countryman Simmons, having faced 51 balls and striking three sixes.

Du Plessis was then out for 31, and there was a flutter of nerves for the men in yellow, but the skipper was ever on hand to save the day. MS Dhoni's 22 not out off 12 balls ensured victory.

The result saw Chennai remain in second but level on points with the Kings XI Punjab at the top, while Mumbai continued to languish on four points, joint-last.