An excellent thriller yesterday, with enough twists and turns, going right down to the wire, that sums up the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians match yesterday at Chepauk. Though both teams were more or less balanced, Chennaihad the advantage with Hayden, Hussey, Dhoni, Oram any one of whom could tear the attack apart. And in balance Mumbai had Jayasurya, Pollock and Robin Uthappa.
Bhajji won the toss and inserted Chennai in. I think the only reason I could reckon with this was of the dew and moisture factor. At best of times Chennai resembles a sauna, and during summer, it is like sitting in a gigantic pressure cooker. And we saw that too, as bowlers struggled to grip the ball, many times it slipped from their hands. And the heat was just energy sapping. Even bowlers like Murali and Pollock struggled to come to terms with the ball. And it was advantage batsmen. Parthiv Patel in his inimitable style continues to flatter to deceive, as he hit 3 4's before edging one to the keeper. Hussey the hero of the match against Punjab, was all deceived by one that came in from Nehra, and at 39/2, it was fairly even stevens. Hayden and Raina put on a 100 plus partnership to get Chennai to a position of strength.
Hayden seems to have a special liking for Pollock. He had earlier hammered him in a World Cup match, and he did the same today, taking him apart. Though Hayden biffed and hammered his way, for me it was Suresh Raina's that was the far better innings. Excellent placing, elegant shots, superb running between the wickets it was really brilliant. Raina later fell while trying to clear the field, and it was Dhoni's turn to come to crease. Though he and Hayden put on a 51 run stand, I really felt that they showed no urgency. Hayden especially seemed to be playing more for himself. With Pollock totally off color, the rest of the Mumbaibowling was plain mediocre. And that is what I could not understand Bhajji's tactics, Sanath Jayasurya's slower offbreaks work perfectly well in this kind of match, and he is a very tricky kind of bowler. Why was he not used at all? Neither did Bhajji try to bowl himself much either. Sachin's absence was clearly being felt here. At the end Chennai Super Kings set a target of 209 in 20 overs.
Mumbai started off badly with wicketkeeper Ronchi run out and then Jayasurya holing out, and the score 30/2. Uthappa and Pollock attempted to repair the damage, with the former playing a brilliant innings of 43, before he was castled by the bowler Gony. This tall strapping Punjabi bowler was first rate, bowling superbly. Whoever said that T20 is all about batsman? Pollock fell soon, and when Dwayne Bravo departed to a stunning catch by Jacob Oram, it was 130/5 and after a couple of balls Khotealso departed with the score now at 141/6 in 15.3 overs. With most of the batsmen back in the pavilion, and an asking rate creeping up to 15, it seemed like a total rout on the cards for Mumbai.
But then as you say that in cricket, the match aint over till the last ball. Bhajjiwas a failure as a captain, but as a batsman he showed that he can still fight till then end. And yes another hero came on to the center stage now Abhishek Nayar playing one of the best innings under pressure. Brilliant placement, cheeky running, clean hitting, superb innings by this young lad here. And most important he refused to give up, he made Chennai sweat hard. Muraliwas taken apart, and so were Jacob Oram and local boy Amarnath. What looked like a walk in the park for Chennai was now becomming a down to the wire affair. 45 runs were put on, the hitherto relaxed atmosphere was now becomming tense, the Mumbai dugout which earlier looked totally dejected was now on its feet.
And then Bhajji holed out in the deep and the crowd roared their approval. 20 runs off 2 overs still needed. Abhishek Nayar refused to give up and clattered the bowlers at will, Dhoni's smile was gone. Last over, 14 runs needed. Joginder's first two balls went for 8 runs, the target was down. It was any one's match, and to make matters worse, a no ball and a free hit. However Ashish Nehra spoilt the chance given, and Joginder pulled it back. Chennai Super Kings won by 6 runs, Mumbai however was not disgraced, they lost with honor. And Sachin's return could prove critical. Dhoni now seems to have become an expert at winning these kinda close matches, the T20 final, the CB series final and now this match. As also Joginder Sharma, who is doing what Steve Waugh used to do for Australia earlier, the ice mean in the death overs specialist.
