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

#1 Dwayne Smith’s 6,4,6 wins it for Mumbai at Wankhede – 2012

This was the one game that no Mumbai Indian fan would ever want to forget. On a hot afternoon in Mumbai, the men in blue decided to field first. Faf du Plessis and Murali Vijay got the team to a good start scoring at 9 per over. The duo added 47 runs for the first wicket before Faf was run out by Harbhajan Singh.

Murali Vijay was looking in good touch before he was bowled by R.P Singh. At 57-2 Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo stitched together a partnership of 62 runs for the 3rd wicket. With 3 overs to go Chennai were looking for a score in excess of 185 but some brilliant death bowling by the likes of R.P Singh and Lasith Malinga, who picked up 3 wickets each made sure the score was below 180. Chennai ended up scoring 173/8 in the allocated 20 overs. Dwayne Bravo was the top scorer with 40, followed by Murali Vijay (41) and Suresh Raina (36).

In reply, Mumbai Indians lost opener James Franklin in the third over. However, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma added a monumental 126 run for the second wicket. Sachin, in particular, was looking in sublime touch smashing boundaries at will. At the other end, Rohit Sharma chanced his arm and took on the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

With the game in complete control, M.S Dhoni handed over the ball to Ashwin. The off-spinner rightly delivered by picking up Sachin Tendulkar, who was caught at covers by Faf du Plessis for a well made 74 off 44 deliveries. Things turned around quickly as Dinesh Karthik was bowled off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo trying to flick the ball towards the leg side. With 27 needing 3 overs, Ravi Jadeja removed Ambati Rayudu (bowled) and a settled Rohit Sharma (bowled) in the same over.

With 25 needing of last 2 overs, Dwayne Bravo picked up 2 wickets dismissing Robin Peterson and Harbhajan Singh of the 3rd and 6th ball of the 19th over.

16 runs were required for Mumbai Indians in the last over with Dwayne Smith and Lasith Malinga in the crease and Ben Hilfenhaus to bowl.

On the first ball of the over, Dwayne Smith could get only a single of a yorker. Lasith Malinga was bowled on the second ball as Smith watched helplessly from the non-striker’s end. R.P Singh took a single off the 3rd ball and 14 runs were required of the last 3 balls. Dwayne Smith smashed a six of the 4th ball, which was low full toss bringing the equation to 8 off 2 balls.

The 5th ball was again a full toss and Smith clobber’s it straight down the ground with 4 needing off the last ball. The last ball was a pitched up half volley which gets clobbered again straight down the ground with no chance for the fielder at deep long off. Mumbai Indians thus went on to win a memorable nail-biting victory at home thanks to some power hitting by Dwayne Smith. The entire Mumbai Indians squad ran out to the field to congratulate Smith for his heroics and the crowd was jubilant. For his effort, Dwayne Smith was awarded Man of the Match.