MI v CSK: Top 5 Performers of the Match!

Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings featured in a match which had 439 runs in it in 40 overs. The last ball thriller was powered by a Kieron Pollard special which helped Mumbai cross the line off the last ball of the match!

Here are our Top 5 performances of the MI v CSK fixture:

Faf du Plessis – 50 (28)

Faf du Plessis continued his top form in IPL 2021 with yet another half century. This was his 4^th half century of the season.

du Plessis scored 50 runs in 28 balls with the help of 2 fours & 4 fours. He put on a very important partnership pf 108 runs in 61 balls with Moeen Ali for the 2^nd wicket after CSK lost Ruturaj Gaikwad early for 4 runs.

Moeen Ali – 58 (36) & 1/1

Moeen Ali was yet again among the runs and wickets for CSK. He hit 5 sixes and 5 fours in his 58 run knock which came off 36 deliveries.

CSK were 112/2 in 10.5 at the fall of his wicket.

He later came back to pick the wicket of Quinton de Kock (38) who gave Mumbai Indians a solid start at the top. Moeen just bowled 1 over and conceded 1 run and picked 1 wicket.

Ambati Rayudu – 72*(27)

Kieron Pollard dented CSK’s middle over surge as they lost 3 wickets for 4 runs  – which slumped the team to 116/4 in 12 overs.

Ambati Rayudu took on the responsibility and played out of his skin to hit 72 not out in 27 balls with the help of 4 fours and 7 sixes. A strike rate of 266.67 made Jadeja at the other end look small as he gathered only 22 runs in 22 balls in the partnership of 102 runs for the 5^th wicket in 48 balls.

He took on quality bowlers like Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah which made this knock more special. Jasprit Bumrah delivered his most expensive spell in IPL history – 4-0-56-1.

Rayudu’s superb knock helped CSK reach 218-4 in 20 overs.

Sam Curran- 3/34

Sam Curran was the only CSK bowler who was a major hindrance to Mumbai Indians in the chase.  Curran picked 3 wickets that of Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya and Jimmy Neesham in the death overs.

He stemmed the flow of runs as he was the only bowler who kept Pollard silent. Bowling a much crucial 17^th over of the match with MI needing 48 runs to win in 4 overs – he conceded just 2 runs and picked the wicket of Krunal Pandya.

Curran finished with match figures of 4-0-34-3.

Kieron Pollard – 2/12 & 87*(34)

Kieron Pollard damaged CSK with both bat and ball. Firstly he put breaks to the run flow of CSK who had a great start powered by Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis. Pollard removed Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina in back-to-back deliveries in his first over. He finished with match figures of 2-0-12-2.

Chasing a massive total of 219 runs to win, Mumbai Indians faltered to 81/3 in 9.4 overs. Pollard and Krunal Pandya (32) put on a partnership of 89 runs in 41 balls to keep the team engaged in the run chase.

Pollard spanked a 17-ball half century – the fastest of IPL 2021. He endured the Sam Curran spell and absorbed the pressure as he went severe on Shardul Thakur and Lungi Ngidi.

Pollard remained unbeaten on 87 runs in 34 balls with the help of 6 fours and 8 sixes which powered Mumbai Indians to a 4 wicket win off the last ball of the match. Pollard ran 2 off the last ball to help his team cross the finishing line.

MI v CSK – Match Summary:

Chennai Super Kings 218-4 in 20 overs

Faf du Plessis 50 (28)

Moeen Ali 58 (36)

Ambati Rayudu 72*(27)

Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-56-1

Kieron Pollard 2-0-12-2

Mumbai Indians 219-6 in 20 overs

Quinton de Kock 38 (28)

Rohit Sharma 35 (24)

Krunal Pandya 32 (23)

Kieron Pollard 87*(34)

Sam Curran 4-0-34-3

MUMBAI INDIANS WON BY 4 WICKETS

Man of the Match: Kieron Pollard