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Johnanesburg: Lasith Malinga's five-wicket haul and Dinesh Karthik's whirlwind 74 went in vain as Chennai Super Kings eked out a narrow six-run win over Mumbai Indians in an inconsequential Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 on Saturday.
Even before the first ball was bowled, the match was rendered a dead-rubber after Lions notched up a five-wicket victory over Yorkshire earlier match of the day to become the second team from Group B to reach the semifinals, thus knocking out both Chennai and Mumbai Indians.
However, both the IPL teams ensured that the spectators at the New Wanderers stadium don't go back disappointed as they enthralled them with an edge-of-the-seat thriller which went down to the wires.
Sent into bat, CSK openers du Plessis (52) and Murali Vijay (39) initially lifted the spirit of the spectators with an entertaining 86-run stand in just 49 balls, studded with 10 fours and three sixes.
However, Malinga spoilt their party as he notched up a five-wicket haul in his four overs. The Sri Lankan pacer dismissed du Plessis, Suresh Raina (8), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35), Albie Morkel (0) and Wriddhiman Saha (5) to help Mumbai restrict Chennai to 173 for 8.
Karthik then led the Mumbai run chase with a scintillating 45-ball 74, which was studded with four fours and six sixes, and almost took them to the brink of victory. Pollard also blasted a 17-ball 31 with the help of one four and three sixes but MI still fell short by six runs in the end.
The credit goes to Man of the match, Ben Hilfenhaus (2-14) who led the bowling attack brilliantly. He was supported well by Albie Morkel (2-28) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-47) and part-timer Faf du Plessis (1-3).
Chasing 174, Mumbai Indians failed to get a good start and were reduced to 21-2 in 4.4 overs.
Karthik too then got into the act, hitting Jadeja for a six over midwicket and successive fours at the same area to notch up 19 runs off the over. MI were 77-2 in 11 overs at that stage.
Morkel was brought back into the attack and the South African picked up Rohit in his first delivery to reduce MI to 85-3 in 12.1 overs.
Ambati Rayudu then handed over his wicket to du Plessis. Kieron Pollard and Karthik then brought up the 100 in 15 overs, still needing 74 runs from 30 balls.
Needing 51 off 3 overs, Mumbai raised 24 runs in the 18th over, courtesy a six by Karthik and a couple of sixes and a four by Pollard.
Hilfenhaus was brought in to bowl the 19th over and the Australian, although conceded a six, got rid of Karthik off a slower delivery.
Needing 19 runs off six balls, Pollard blasted Jadeja's first ball over the long-off but a stunning catch by Raina in the next ball put brakes to Mumbai's chase.
Earlier, Chennai went on to a brilliant start but Pragyan Ojha brought the first break through, cleaning up Vijay after the Tamil Nadu batsman danced down the pitch in pursuit of another big hit. Malinga then struck twice in two balls to reduce them to 101 for three in 10.5 overs.
Dhoni (35), who survived a run-out chance early in his innings, provided a much-needed spark with an entertaining 19-ball 35, laced with three fours and two sixes, before becoming a victim of Malinga.
In the final over, R Ashwin blasted a four and six over third man off the last ball to swell Chennai's total to 173-8.
Brief scores
Chennai Super Kings 173 for 8 (du Plessis 52, Malinga 5-32)
Mumbai Indians 167 for 7 (Karthik 74, Hilfenhaus 2-14)
Result Chennai Super Kings won by six runs
MOM Ben Hilfenhaus (Chennai Super Kings)
Points Chennai Super Kings 4, Mumbai Indians 0
