‘Champion’ Bravo blazes CSK to victory in IPL 2018 opener

Dwayne Bravo batted like a 'champion' as Chennai Super Kings made a dream comeback in the Indian Premier League with a thrilling one-wicket victory against defending champions Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Mumbai: Dwayne Bravo batted like a 'champion' as Chennai Super Kings made a dream comeback in the Indian Premier League with a thrilling one-wicket victory against defending champions Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Needing 7 off the last over, an injured Kedar Kadhav (24 no) unable to run due to hamstring problem played three dot balls before playing lap shot over fine leg off Mustafizur Rahaman followed by a cover drive to end the match on a winning note.

Chasing a tricky target of 166 on a track that had seam movement and bounce, CSK were down in the dumps, but Bravo's incredible 68 off 30 balls with seven sixes turned it in favour of the 'Canary Yellow' brigade.

The 18th and 19th overs bowled by Mitchell McLenaghan and Jasprit Bumrah were taken for 20 each including five sixes as Bravo once again showed why MS Dhoni values him so much.

Hardik Pandya (3/24) bowled through considerable pain while rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande (3/23) was briliant on his debut but it was Bravo who changed it all.

IPL's highest ever run accumulator Suresh Raina (4) didn't stay long as the India all-rounder got one to climb up from back of the length with the left-hander giving an easy catch to elder brother Krunal Pandya stationed at the edge of 30-yard circle at mid-on.

Leg-spinner Markande then came into action. He removed Ambati Rayudu (22) with a googly as he tried an ambitious slog sweep.

Then came the prize wicket of MS Dhoni (5) as the skipper failed to read the rookie leg-break bowler's wrong 'un trying to defend him off the backfoot. The result was a plumb leg-before decision leaving CSK reeling at 51 for 4.

Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh departed in quick succession as Bravo came and conquered.

Earlier, all-rounder Krunal Pandya smashed a quickfire 41 off 22 balls as Mumbai Indians recovered from a poor start to post a challenging 165 for 4.

Mumbai Indians were struggling at 20 for 2 after openers Evin Lewis (0) and skipper Rohit Sharma (15) were dismissed cheaply on a track that assisted seamers.

A 78-run-third wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav (43 in 29 balls) and Ishan Kishan (40 off 29 balls) put MI back on track before Pandya brothers Krunal and Hardik added 52 in 5.2 overs to take their team past 16--run mark.

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.

Asked to bat in front of a capacity crowd, right-arm seamer Deepak Chahar trapped Lewis in front of the wicket with an outswinger (inswinger for the left-hander)

Debutant Lewis used the DRS, the first in the IPL's history, but the decision remained in CSK's favour.

Skipper Rohit as usual struggled against the moving delivery due to lack of feet movement as Shane Watson removed him when he top edged one to Ambati Rayudu.

Surya and Kishan then steered the team out of trouble with the runs coming in 52 balls. Surya made his intentions clear by striking a four and six off Watson in the sixth over.

Kishan, then stuck two boundaries and six off Imran Tahir, as Mumbai amassed 18 runs in the 11th over.  Then Surya, who got a life on 34, hammered Dwayne Bravo for three consecutive fours in the 12th over. But as they looked good for a big total, Watson struck again removing Surya with a bouncer and Kishan was caught at short third-man off Tahir.

For CSK, veteran Watson (2-29) was the pick of the bowlers.