Mumbai: Opener Rohit Sharma’s valiant second Indian Premier League (IPL) century went in vain as a four-wicket haul from Matheesha Pathirana managed to restrict a power-packed Mumbai Indians (MI) line-up to 186/6 in their 20 overs and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured a 20-run win at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
With this win, CSK is at number three with four wins and two losses, giving them eight points. MI is at eighth spot, with two wins and four losses, giving them four points.
In the run chase of 207 runs, openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan started really well. Slowly building from boundary each in the first two overs, the duo targetted pacers Tushar Deshpande, Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman in next three overs.
While Tushar was hit for a four and six by the duo, 12 runs in total, Thakur was hit for 13 runs, including a six and four by Kishan. In the fifth over, Rohit hit Mustafizur for a four and six and Ishan also smashed a boundary to end the over at 53/0.
At the end of six overs of the powerplay, MI was at 63/0, with Rohit (42*) and Ishan (21*) unbeaten. Rohit hit Thakur for two fours to end the powerplay on a high.
However, Pathirana ended the quickfire first-wicket partnership at 70 runs, getting Ishan caught for 23 in 15 balls, with three fours and a six. Thakur took the catch at mid-wicket. MI was 70/1 in 7.1 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav walked in but was caught brilliantly by Mustafizur near the boundary on third-man position. MI was 70/2 in 7.3 overs.
After some fluent forties, Rohit finally completed his half-century in 30 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. At the end of 10 overs, MI was 90/2, with Rohit (55*) joined by Tilak Varma (12*) unbeaten.
Smashing Ravindra Jadeja for a four and six, Rohit helped MI reach the 100-run mark in 10.2 overs. With a boundary from Tilak, the over yielded 18 runs.
Tilak and Rohit continued to fight it out for MI, bringing their 50-run stand in 30 balls. However, Pathirana ended the partnership, with Thakur taking the catch at mid-off. Tilak was gone at 31 in 20 balls, with five fours. MI was 130/3 in 13.5 overs.
Skipper Hardik Pandya could not survive for long either, as Jadeja caught him near deep mid-wicket for just two runs in six balls. MI was 134/4 in 15.3 overs.
Tim David tried to inject some life into the game with two sixes, however Mustafizur got him caught by Rachin. MI was 148/5 in 16.3 overs.
Pathirana continued to run through MI’s line-up, cleaning up Romario Shepherd’s stumps for just one run. MI is 157/6 in 17.3 overs.
MI could not finish the run chase, though Rohit got his second IPL ton in 61 balls. MI innings ended at 186/6 in 20 overs, with Rohit (105* in 63 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes) and Mohammed Nabi (4* in 7 balls) unbeaten.
IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma’s fighting century in vain as CSK beat MI by 20 runs
