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IPL PHOTOS: Raina helps Chennai eliminate Mumbai
A brilliant counter-attacking half-century by Suresh Raina helped Chennai Super Kings knock Mumbai Indians out of the Indian Premier League, at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai, on Wednesday night.
Chasing a competitive 174 for victory, Chennai's innings got off to a decent start before Harbhajan Singh jolted the chase with twin strikes.
However, Raina and David Hussey kept their cool to guide the two-time champions to a convincing seven wickets victory with 14 balls to spare.
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Mumbai off to sound start
Mumbai, after being put in to bat first, got off to a bright start. Openers Michael Hussey and Lendl Simmons attacked the Chennai bowlers from the onset.
Simmons was the first to hit the boundary boards as he clipped Ashish Nehra.
He then slashed Ishwar Pandey through the covers in the next over.
But Mumbai's innings got the momentum in Mohit Sharma’s over, as Simmons smashed him for a six and couple of boundaries.
Hussey too got in the act, creaming one through mid-wicket.
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Jadeja provides the breakthrough
Ravindra Jadeja struck at the right time for Chennai, dismissing Hussey for 39. The Australian batsman was beaten by a quicker one and comprehensively castled.
The Hussey-Simmons duo added 76-runs for the opening wicket.
Corey Anderson, fresh from the scintillating innings against Rajasthan Royals, started off in prime fashion, sending Jadeja out of the park off the second ball he faced.
The New Zealander then attacked part-time off-spinner Suresh Raina, hitting him for a six and boundary.
But Anderson couldn’t carry on as he top-edged one to Ishwar Pandey off Ravichandran Ashwin.
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Simmons continues to be consistent
Simmons's dream IPL run continued as he completed yet another half-century. The West Indies batsman, in a rich vein of form, reached the landmark with a boundary off Ishawar Pandey.
After completing his half-century, he went berserk, hitting one boundary an over.
His innings finally came to an end when he lofted one to Raina at long-on off the bowling of Jadeja.
Mumbai then lost wickets at regular intervals in search of quick runs.
Kieron Pollard did threaten, but was dismissed by Ashish Nehra for 14.
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Chennai off to a positive start in the chase
Chennai Super Kings were off to a good start in the chase. Faf du Plessis partnered Dwayne Smith and the duo put on a 60-runs stand for the opening wicket.
Smith looked a bit off colour as he struggled in his innings despite scoring a boundary off the second ball off the innings.
Du Plessis was a bit more fluent, stroking a couple of boundaries off Corey Anderson.
He tormented Anderson with a six and a couple of boundaries as Chennai crossed the 50-runs stand.
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Bhajji provides the breakthrough
Harbhajan Singh provided the breakthrough, dismissing Smith and Du Plessis in the same over.
Smith, who played a chancy innings till then, got the toe-end of the bat and was easily pouched by Pollard and long-on.
Du Plessis failed to the clear the man with an inside-out shot and was snapped by Dunk.
Brendon McCullum did hit a six, but perished in search of quick runs as he was stumped by Tare off the bowling of Pragyan Ojha.
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Hussey, Raina see Chennai home
But a match-winning unbeaten 89-run stand between David Hussey and Suresh Raina saw Chennai home.
Raina, the aggressor of the two, attacked Harbhajan, sending him into the stands.
Hussey latched on to an off-colour Jasprit Bumrah, hitting him for couple of boundaries.
The Australian turned the game on its head as he hit three massive sixes off Ojha to ensure Chennai were right in the chase.
Raina completed his half-century off just 30 balls, which included three boundaries and two sixes.
The left-hander finished the game off with a boundary off Bumrah.
Chennai will now face Kings XI in Qualifier II.