A magnificent batting effort by Rohit Sharma (87) and an equally impressive bowling performance by Harbhajan Singh (5-18) helped Mumbai Indians score a comfortable eight-run win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League match at the Wankhede stadium on Friday.
Chasing a formidable target (165), Chennai could muster only 156 for nine. S Badrinath top scored with an unbeaten 71, his 48-ball knock inclusive of seven hits to the fence and two over it.
It was a sweet revenge for the hosts who had been pipped to the post by the visitors in the final last year.
It was Mumbai's fourth win in five matches and consolidated their place atop the table. On the other hand it was the third successive reverse for Chennai, following wins in their two opening encounters. The defending champions need to do some serious rethinking ahead of their next match against Pune Warriors on Monday.
Chennai got off to a disastrous start, losing Murali Vijay (12) and Suresh Raina (5) inside the first five overs.
Michael Hussey (41) and S Badrinath steadied the ship, putting in a valuable 60-run partnership, in just 39 balls, for the third wicket.
However, the dismissal of Hussey and captain Dhoni (3), both to spectacular catches by Pollard and Sharma respectively, in the space of an over put the visitors on the back foot.
Badri and S Anirudha (9) put together a run-a-ball 22 for the fifth wicket before the latter hit a Harbhajan delivery straight to Sathish at deep midwicket.
The off-spinner, who was hardly impressive in the matches before, then wrapped up the Chennai tale and completed a five-wicket haul.
The visitors needed 25 off the last over, with only a wicket left. And it proved to be a tough ask.
Earlier, a magnificent 87 by Rohit Sharma helped Mumbai Indians recover from a disastrous start, they were 13 for two in the fourth over, to post a formidable 164 for four in their stipulated quota of overs.
Rohit's 48-ball knock was inclusive of eight hits to the fence and five huge ones over it.
The 23-year-old was also involved in the two crucial partnerships, one that helped lay the foundation of the Mumbai Indians innings -- 61 for the third wicket with Ambati Rayudu (27) -- and the other that helped build on that foundation -- 87 for the fourth wicket with Andrew Symonds (31 not out).
Doug Bollinger was the most successful bowler for Chennai super Kings with figures of two for 30, including the prized scalp of Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar (5).
