Mumbai find paradise in Eden

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, May 24

The Kolkata Metrological Department had predicted a thunderstorm, accompanied by light shower, for Sunday, the day when Chennai Super Kings took on Mumbai Indians in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

While the weathermen got their forecast wrong as Kolkata witnessed clear skies, thunderstorms did hit the city in the evening - at the Eden Gardens to be precise. And the lightning didn't strike once, but thrice.   Lendl Simmons, Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard, the three Mumbai batsmen, set the Eden ablaze with their scintillating stokes as they guided their team to IPL title, their second in three years.

Simmons' attacking 45-ball 68, Rohit's brutal 50 off 26 deliveries, and Pollard's late cameo of 18-ball 36 helped Mumbai score a challenging 202 for 5, the season's second highest total. Chasing the daunting target, two-time champions Chennai fell short by 41 runs.

Both the finalists made the final in a contrasting fashion. Mumbai made a remarkable turnaround midway, winning seven of their last eight games after losing five matches on the trot at the start. Chennai, on the other hand, started their campaign on a high, winning six games on the trot before losing their way in the middle, only to bounce back with a win against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator. They lost the Qualifier-1 against Mumbai at Wankhede.

The final had provided Chennai with a chance to avenge that defeat, but an unusually slow start by openers Smith and Michael Hussey (4) put paid to their hopes.

The two were not allowed to open their arms by Mumbai's new-ball pair of Lasith Malinga and Mitchell McClenaghan as Chennai managed to score just 26 runs in five overs. Malinga gave away just seven runs in his first spell of two overs. Hussey's horrifying stay at the crease came to an end when Jagadeesha Suchith caught him brilliantly at cover-point off McClenaghan. 

Much was expected of Suresh Raina, who had so far had a forgettable season, but he too kept quiet by Mumbai bowlers for the initial part of his innings. While Smith countered the Mumbai attack with occasional hits to the fence, the inability of other Chennai batsmen to get going hurt their chances. At one stage, the asking rate had climbed to over 13 runs per over, with 146 runs required from 11 overs.

Raina tried to break-free with a six over long-on off Harbhajan Singh, but that was the only convincing shot he played in his scratchy knock. In the middle of Chennai's horrible chase, Smith reached his second fifty of the season with a blazing four off Hardik Pandya at third-man.

But he soon fell to Harbhajan in the12th over. Smith departed for a 48-ball 57, decorated with nine fours and one six. Harbhajan has been on a prowl this season, chipping in with wickets at crucial junctures. He again did the trick for Mumbai with another important wicket of Raina (28) in his third over to completely derail the chase of Chennai.

Dhoni had taken the gamble of promoting himself up the order ahead of Faf du Plessis, but the change did not yield the desired results as he was soon bowled by Malinga for 18. Once Chennai lost Dwayne Bravo (9) and du Plessis (1) in quick succession, their chase was effectively over as they were left to score 71 runs off 18 balls.

Earlier, sent in to bat, Mumbai's innings was bolstered by attacking knocks from their top and middle-order as they raced away to 50 in just five overs. It took Rohit's upper-cut, a late-cut and a cover-drive - all in one over - to let Chennai know that a thunderstorm awaited them at the hallowed Eden turf.

Rohit and Simmons ripped apart the Chennai bowling attack as they stitched together a 119-run partnership in just 67 balls for the second wicket to put Mumbai on course for a big total. After their departure, Pollard took the centre-stage and sent the Mumbai bowlers on a leatherhunt. His whirlwind cameo helped Mumbai cross the 200-run mark.

Scoreboard

Mumbai Indians

L Simmons b Smith 68 

P Patel run out 0 

R Sharma c Jadeja b Bravo 50 

K Pollard c Raina b Sharma 36 

A Rayudu not out 36 

H Pandya c Raina b Bravo 0

H Singh not out 6 

Extras ((b 1, lb 4, nb 1) 6 

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 202 

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-120, 3-120, 4-191, 5-191  

Bowling

A Nehra 4-0-41- 0 

M Sharma 4-0-38-1

R Ashwin 2-0-21-0

R Jadeja 2-0-26-0

P Negi 2-0-18-0

D Bravo 4-0-36- 2

D Smith 2-0-17-1