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IPL 2021: Pollard's explicit show overpowers CSK's consolidated batting effort to help MI win a thriller

The ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League is the 14th season of the profitable Twnety20 league. Mumbai Indians is the five-time defending champion under Rohit Sharma. Chennai Super Kings is a former three-time champion under MS Dhoni, having won last in 2018.

IPL 2021, Match 27: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings (MI vs CSK) report-ayh
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Delhi, First Published May 1, 2021, 9:32 PM IST

Mumbai Indians justified its tag of being the defending champion rightfully with a sublime batting show. It edged past former champion Chennai Super Kings by four wickets in a thrilling fashion in Match 27 of the 2021 Indian Premier League at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday. While Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu put CSK on top earlier with a deadly score of 218/4, it was Kieron Pollard flawless innings that propelled MI to one of its most memorable wins to date.

Earlier, MI skipper Rohit won the toss and elected to bowl, as he made a couple of changes, bringing in James Neesham and Dhawal Kulkarni for Jayant Yadav and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Meanwhile, CSK skipper MS Dhoni moved in with an unchanged XI.

CSK was off to a nervous start, losing Ruturaj Gaikwad for just four in the opening over off, as pacer Trent Boult got rid of him with just four runs on the board. However, it was the pair of du Plessis and Moeen that put on the brakes on MI's bowling for the next few overs.

The duo put up a whopping 108-run stand for the second wicket,  with Moeen scoring his fourth IPL half-century. However, he fell for 58 after pacer Japsrit Bumrah got rid of him in the 11th over, thus breaking the crucial stand.

Just three runs later, at 116, in the next over, du Plessis departed right after scoring his 20th IPL 50, off pacer Keiron Pollard, while Suresh Raina immediately followed him back in the same over for a mere couple. However, it was followed by another brisk from Rayudu, who too scored his 20th IPL half-century off just 20 deliveries, while with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, the pair contributed to a 102-run stand for the fifth wicket, as CSK handed MI a hefty target of 219.

For MI, six bowlers were put into the attack. It was Pollard who had the most success, besides being the most economical of all.

FULL SCORECARD: IPL 2021, Match 27: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings (MI vs CSK)

As MI came out for the chase, it was off to a great start, with the openers Rohit and Quinton de Kock contributing to a 71-run opening stand. The former departed for 35 to pacer Shardul Thakur in the eighth over.

Just seven runs later, in the following over, off spinner Jadeja, Suryakumar Yadav fell for a mere three, followed by de Kock for 38 in the subsequent over, off Moeen, as the score read 81/3. However, it was the pair of all-rounder Krunal Pandya and Pollard that took serious charge of the chase thereon.

The duo put up an 89-run stand for the fourth wicket, while Pollard slammed a quickfire 17-ball 16th IPL half-century in the process. At 170, in the 17th over, pacer Sam Curran broke the partnership, trapping Krunal leg-before for 32.

It was then all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Pollard that contributed 32 more before the former got going for 16 off Curran, while just a run later, in the same over, James Neesham was dismissed for a golden duck. Nevertheless, the final over from pacer Lungi Ngidi was smacked all over by Pollard, as MI snatched a last-ball thriller to win by four wickets.

For CSK, six bowlers were utilised as well. While Curran had the most success, Moeen was considerably economical, with Ngidi being at the receiving end.
Brief scores: CSK 218/4 (Du Plessis- 50, Moeen- 58, Rayudu- 72*; Pollard- 2/12) vs MI 219/6 (De Kock- 38, Rohit- 35, Krunal- 32, Pollard- 87*; Curran- 3/34) by four wickets.

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