Chennai Super Kings comeback in the Indian Premier League after the two-year suspension was nothing less than a fairytale. They were done and dusted before Dwayne Bravo blinder and heroics in the last over from injured Kedar Jadhav helped them to a one-wicket win with just one ball to spare. Chaisng 166 to win, CSK won the opening encounter of IPL 11 at Wankhede with just one ball to spare and just one wicket in hand.
Needing 7 off the last ball with Jadhav unable to walk had something special under his belt. After three back-to-back dot balls, Jadhav played a cheeky shot for a six at the fine leg and then a smashing cover drive helped them seal a nail-biting win.
Earlier, debutant Mayank Markande created havoc in Chennai Super Kings batting line-up in the opening match of the Indian Premier League on Saturday as his 3 for 23 but that went in vain.
Chasing 166 runs to win, CSK openers got them off to a solid start with Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu dealing in boundaries before Hardik Pandya got rid of Shane Watson in the fourth over. Former Australian opener scored 16.
Suresh Raina was the next man in but he was not in the middle for too much as Hardik got his second of the day when he gave an easy catch to Krunal at mid-on. From there on Mayank Markande was the star of the show.
First, he scalped dangerous looking Rayudu for 22 and then in his very next over he picked up CSK skipper MS Dhoni. CSK were tottering at 51/4 in 9 overs at that stage with Kedav Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja in the middle.
When it looked that duo will help Chennai fightback in the match Mustafizur Rahman joined the party as he sent back Jadeja with CSK score reading 75/5 in 12 overs. Markande the picked up Deepak Chahar who was stumped by Ishan Kishan.
Dwayne Bravo and Harbhajan Singh were in the middle for the visitors but Mitchell McClenaghan picked up the wicket of Bhajji with CSK needing 60 off 30 balls.
Then it was Bravo all the way as he smashed Mumbai Indians bowler all across the park in 60 off 30 balls.
Earlier, Krunal Pandya smashed a quickfire 41 off 22 balls as Mumbai Indians recovered from a poor start to post a challenging 165 for 4 against Chennai Super Kings in the opening encounter of the 11th edition of Indian Premier League.
Chennai bowlers made an impact early on, as rookie bowler Deepak Chahar gave them an early and first breakthrough as he picked up opener Evein Lewis, as he was adjudged lbw. Soon after Rohit Sharma followed him back to the pavilion as he top edged one on Shane Watson bowling.
Mumbai Indians were just 39/2 at the end of fthe irst powerplay but from there on young Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav steadied Mumbai Indians ship and help them fightback thanks to some power hitting. The duo help Mumbai to 69/2 after 10 overs.
However, the duo upped the ante from there on and they were soon were 98 for two before Watson removed Yadav for 43. Hardik Pandya was the next man in as he joined young Kishan in the middle. But CSK, got Kishan against run of play as he played a nothing shot and departed after scoring 40 off 29 balls on Imran Tahir delivery.
Hardik’s elder brother Krunal Pandya was the next man in with Mumbai Indians at 117/4 after 15 overs. Krunal looked in the mood since the time he came and smashed bowlers all across the park.
Krunal stuck two boundaries and a six in the17th over as he punished Mark Woods (0/49 in 4 overs), who conceded 19 runs. He kept on hitting the odd balls and was aided by Hardik.
Krunal was in his element as he again punished Woods hitting two boundaries and a six in the 19th over, which fetched them another 17 runs. His cameo helped Mumbai post 165/4 on the board.
