IPL: 3 unforgettable clashes between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians

#2 Hardik Pandya’s assault gives Mumbai victory at Chepauk - 2015

This was the 43rd game of the Pepsi Indian Premier League (2015), played at Chennai. Electing to bat first, Chennai Super Kings got off to a rollicking start scoring at more than 9 runs per over thanks to the dynamic duo of Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith. The pair added 44 runs before Brendon McCullum was caught at deep midwicket for a quick fire 23 of 11 deliveries. Suresh Raina and Dwayne Smith didn’t last long as both the batsmen were dismissed before 10 overs. At the halfway juncture, Chennai Super Kings were struggling at 67/3.

Faf du Plessis and M.S Dhoni resurrected the innings as the pair added 39 runs before Faf was caught at fine leg in the 16th over. At 104-4 Dhoni found able support in Pawan Negi who attacked the bowlers right from the word go. He hit 4 boundaries and one huge six in his 17-ball 36 which propelled the team score to 158/5 in 20 overs.

Mumbai Indians got off a great start with Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons taking the attack to the Chennai bowlers. By the end of mandatory power-play, the pair added 61 runs and brought the equation down to 98 runs required off 14 overs with all the wickets remaining. However, things turned around in the 11th over, when Ravichandran Ashwin was handed over the ball. He first dismissed Parthiv Patel caught at wide long-on and then dismissed Simmons, who was caught at deep mid-wicket making it two wickets in the over.

Kieron Pollard was the next to go after he was run-out by Dwayne Bravo. Rohit Sharma played slowly, while Ambati Rayudu was hitting some lusty blows at the other end. With 34 needing of 3 overs, Rohit Sharma was dismissed on the first ball of 18th over. With 30 to win off the last 2 overs, Hardik Pandya launched an assault. He smashed Pawan Negi for 4 sixes in the over to bring the target to 5 needing of the last over. Mumbai reached the target with Ambati Rayudu hitting the winning run on the second ball of the last over to complete a memorable victory for Mumbai Indians.

For his brutal hitting (21 of 8 deliveries) and 3 catches, Hardik Pandya was awarded Man of the Match.