IN PICS: IPL 2019, CSK vs MI, Match 44

Even as Harbhajan Singh kept the things really tight, Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma were off to bright start, with the former hitting Deepak Chahar for a six and a four in the third over. However, the Indian pacer had the final laugh as he dismissed the in-form South African for 15 to give CSK their first breakthrough. @BCCI

While CSK pulled back the things after the first ten over, Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard scored 17 runs off the last over bowled by Dwayne Bravo and made sure that the visitors cross the 150-run mark and put up a respectable total on the board. @BCCI

CSK were off to a horrible start in chase as Lasith Malinga struck in his first over to dismiss Shane Watson. The Australian allrounder was pivotal to CSK’s win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first game and his wicket gave MI a much-needed boost in the defence of their 155-run total. @BCCI

However, MI denied CSK any immediate success as Evin Lewis, who replaced Ben Cutting in the playing XI, and Rohit, who brought up his first fifty of the season and scored 67, kept the scoreboard ticking. The two put up a 75-run partnership for the second wicket. @BCCI

But CSK fought back in style as Mitchell Santner and Imran Tahir scalped two wickets in quick succession to send Lewis and Krunal Pandya packing. The two left-handers departed in space of two runs as MI were reduced to 101/3 from 99/1. The New Zealander was clearly the pick of the bowlers for the home team and returned with the figures of 2/13. @BCCI

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) received two big blows even before a ball was bowled. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja were ruled out of the game against Mumbai Indians due to fever with Suresh Raina in charge of the home team. @BCCI

Krunal then joined the wicket-taking party. His twin strikes, where he dismissed Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav, pegged back CSK further in the chase. While Rayudu got out for zero, Jadhav could only score six as the poor run of form continued for the two in this season of the IPL. @BCCI

Although Vijay had a life in Malinga’s second over as debutant Anukul Roy dropped an absolute sitter, Hardik made sure that MI scalp another CSK wicket early in chase as he sent CSK skipper Raina packing for two in the fourth over as Suryakumar Yadav took a catch at point. @PTI

While Vijay’s presence offered CSK some hope, Jasprit Bumrah dashed those hopes as he returned to bowl in the 12th over. The right-hander perished for 38 after being caught by Suryakumar Yadav and CSK were reduced to 66/6. While the CSK dug-out did not seem too pleased with the catch and the third-umpire’s call, there was no conclusive evidence to cancel the soft signal from the on-field umpires. @PTI

CSK managed to cross the 100-run mark. However, they went down meekly as Lasith Malinga, Krunal and Jasprit Bumrah, who shared eight wickets between themselves, powered MI to a comprehensive 46-run win over the defending champions. @BCCI