NEW DELHI: Lasith Malinga (36 not out) and Harbhajan Singh (19 not out) led Mumbai Indians to a thrilling three-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League Twenty20 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Malinga and Harbhajan added match-winning unbeaten 53-run stand to snatch victory from unlikely situations with a ball to spare.
Mumbai's hopes were dashed for a while when Albie Morkel dismissed Kieron Pollard (22) in the sixteenth over with 53 runs more to win off 28 balls. But Malinga had other things in his mind as he smacked three huge sixes and three boundaries in his 18-ball heroics.
Mumbai skipper Harbhajan played a patient innings as he hit just two fours in his 20 balls stay on the crease, curbing his attacking play while giving support to Malinga.
Chasing 159-run target, Mumbai initially lost their way when they lost wickets at regular intervals against Chennai.
R Ashwin dismissed R Sathish (14) to add to Mumbai's miseries as they were reduced to 85/6 in 11.5 overs.
Mumbai lost half their side inside ten overs for 63 after Aiden Blizzard (28) and Davy Jacobs (18) gave them a good start against Chennai.
Suresh Raina, Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo took two Mumbai wickets each to lead the Chennai attacks.
Blizzard smashed a six and four fours in his quick 21-ball innings and put on 39-run opening stand with Jacobs, who hit three boundaries in his 15-ball knock.
Electing to bat, Michael Hussey (81) scored a fine fifty to help champions Super Kings post 158/4 against Mumbai.
Hussey smashed three huge sixes and eight boundaries in his impressive 57-ball knock. Hussey completed his 12th T20 fifty off 43 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Skipper MS Dhoni (22 not out) played some lofty shots at the end after CSK lost Hussey in the penultimate over to lead them to a fighting total.
Dhoni added quick 33 runs for the fourth wicket with Hussey as they tried to accelerate their innings. Dhoni hit three fours in his quick 13 balls innings.
Super Kings lost S Badrinath (16) after he added a valuable 48-run stand for the third wicket with Hussey to lead the Super Kings charge in the champions' first match.
Mumbai managed to remove the dangerous Suresh Raina (18) after Chennai started steadily.
Raina (18) started off well but got out while stepping out to Kieron Pollard and bounced off the keeper's pads to hit the stumps and was short of ground.
Lasith Malinga fired in a yorker and clean bowled Murali Vijay (8) to give the Mumbai Indians the first breakthrough.
Earlier, Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat against Mumbai Indians.
Teams:
Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Murali Vijay, Mike Hussey, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, Albie Morkel, Dwayne Bravo, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Doug Bollinger, Shahdab Jakati.
Mumbai Indians: Harbhajan Singh (capt), Aiden Blizzard, Davy Jacobs, Tirumalsetti Suman, Ambati Rayudu, Andrew Symonds, Kieron Pollard, R Sathish, Lasith Malinga, Abu Nechim Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Mumbai's hopes were dashed for a while when Albie Morkel dismissed Kieron Pollard (22) in the sixteenth over with 53 runs more to win off 28 balls. But Malinga had other things in his mind as he smacked three huge sixes and three boundaries in his 18-ball heroics.
Mumbai skipper Harbhajan played a patient innings as he hit just two fours in his 20 balls stay on the crease, curbing his attacking play while giving support to Malinga.
Chasing 159-run target, Mumbai initially lost their way when they lost wickets at regular intervals against Chennai.
R Ashwin dismissed R Sathish (14) to add to Mumbai's miseries as they were reduced to 85/6 in 11.5 overs.
Mumbai lost half their side inside ten overs for 63 after Aiden Blizzard (28) and Davy Jacobs (18) gave them a good start against Chennai.
Suresh Raina, Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo took two Mumbai wickets each to lead the Chennai attacks.
Blizzard smashed a six and four fours in his quick 21-ball innings and put on 39-run opening stand with Jacobs, who hit three boundaries in his 15-ball knock.
Electing to bat, Michael Hussey (81) scored a fine fifty to help champions Super Kings post 158/4 against Mumbai.
Hussey smashed three huge sixes and eight boundaries in his impressive 57-ball knock. Hussey completed his 12th T20 fifty off 43 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Skipper MS Dhoni (22 not out) played some lofty shots at the end after CSK lost Hussey in the penultimate over to lead them to a fighting total.
Dhoni added quick 33 runs for the fourth wicket with Hussey as they tried to accelerate their innings. Dhoni hit three fours in his quick 13 balls innings.
Super Kings lost S Badrinath (16) after he added a valuable 48-run stand for the third wicket with Hussey to lead the Super Kings charge in the champions' first match.
Mumbai managed to remove the dangerous Suresh Raina (18) after Chennai started steadily.
Raina (18) started off well but got out while stepping out to Kieron Pollard and bounced off the keeper's pads to hit the stumps and was short of ground.
Lasith Malinga fired in a yorker and clean bowled Murali Vijay (8) to give the Mumbai Indians the first breakthrough.
Earlier, Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat against Mumbai Indians.
Teams:
Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Murali Vijay, Mike Hussey, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, Albie Morkel, Dwayne Bravo, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Doug Bollinger, Shahdab Jakati.
Mumbai Indians: Harbhajan Singh (capt), Aiden Blizzard, Davy Jacobs, Tirumalsetti Suman, Ambati Rayudu, Andrew Symonds, Kieron Pollard, R Sathish, Lasith Malinga, Abu Nechim Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal.
