Proteas leg-spinner Imran Tahir was unable to prevent the Chennai Super Kings from falling to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of the Mumbai Indians in Tuesday’s Indian Premier League first qualifier at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai.
The result ensured Mumbai a berth in Sunday’s final in Hyderabad. Chennai will meet the winner of Wednesday’s eliminator between the Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Friday’s qualifier. This will determine Mumbai’s opposition in the final.
South African captain Faf du Plessis, who later hurt a hamstring while in the field, was dismissed for six. The Super Kings’ final total of 131 for four was built on the back of middle-order batsmen Ambati Rayudu’s and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 42 and 37 not out respectively.
Mumbai’s pursuit suffered the early losses of captain Rohit Sharma and Proteas star Quinton de Kock, who was caught by Du Plessis. Tahir was introduced into the bowling attack soon enough – and dismissed the talented Ishan Kishan and Krunal Pandya with consecutive deliveries.
Pandya’s departure marked the 300th wicket in Tahir’s 13 years of professional T20 cricket. Only six other players – West Indian Dwayne Bravo, Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga, West Indian Sunil Narine, Bangladeshi Shakib Al Hasan, and Pakistanis Shahid Afridi and Sohail Tanvir have reached this milestone.
Unbeaten half-centurion Suryakumar Yadav was ultimately at hand to ensure triumph with nine deliveries to spare. Mumbai won the IPL in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
SPORTZPICS for BCCI
