Chennai Super Kings (CSK) snatched a stunning and thrilling victory against the hosts Mumbai Indians (MI) in the opening match of IPL 2018 at Wankhede Stadium.
CSK won the toss and decided to field first. MI made 165/4 at the end of 20 overs while CSK chased down that target in a stunning way by losing 9 wickets and with the only ball to spare.
Also see: Match 1 (MI vs CSK) – Twitter Reactions
Now, we will look at the hits and flops players of this match.
Hits
Dwayne Bravo (CSK) – Only CSK man to cross the 25-runs mark in this match. When the team and fans gave up their hope, this right-handed Caribbean batsman showed how to make a comeback from the verge of defeat. It was seeming almost over for CSK as they were on 119/8 in 17 overs and they still needed 47 runs in 18 balls with only two wickets in hands.
Bravo collected 39 runs in the next 10 balls and changed the game just in few moments. He played a great knock off 68 runs off 30 balls where he hit 7 sixes and 3 fours. He was just short to finish the game when he was caught out. However, it proved enough for his team to secure their first victory after making their comeback in IPL.
Before his batting, he had also a decent job with the ball where he had the bowling figure of 4-0-25-0. After conceding 14-runs in his first over, the right-arm medium-fast bowler checked the MI innings despite bowling in the death overs.
Bravo was the obvious choice for the Player of the Match award.
Also read: Turning Point of the Match
Hardik Pandya (MI) – Another man who produced all-round performances but had different luck at the end. At first, the right-handed batsman scored an unbeaten 22 runs off 20 balls where he continuously rotated the strike with singles and gave the opportunity to his brother Krunal Pandya to make big hits.
Then, he also took the responsibility with the ball despite suffering an ankle injury that he got during his running in the final ball of MI’s innings. The right-arm pacer had the bowling figure of 4-0-24-3 as he produced the early breakthrough for his team by dismissing Shane Watson and Suresh Raina.
Mayank Markande (MI) – The 20-year old leg-spinner hugely impressed in his IPL debut. He was the best bowler in this match with the bowling figure of 4-0-23-3. Just after the powerplay, Mayank was introduced and finished his quota in the single spell. While Hardik produced the early breakthrough, he made the trouble deeper for the visitors through his superb bowling effort.
In his debutant IPL, Mayank dismissed Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Deepak Chahar.
Flops
Mark Wood (CSK) – A forgetful IPL debut for the English fast bowler. The right-arm fast bowler conceded 49 runs in his 4 overs and failed to claim his first IPL wicket (4-0-49-0). The 28-year-old CSK pacer conceded almost 30% runs in that innings (Mumbai Indians scored 165/4).
After conceding only 2 runs in his first IPL over, his next three overs were expensive.
Mitchell McClenaghan (MI) – The over which shook the match. It was the 18th over of CSK innings when the Kiwi left-arm pacer conceded 20 runs. Mitchell McClenaghan was the second most expensive bowler in this match as his bowling figure was 4-0-44-1. He had much control in his first three overs but failed to produce the same effort in his final over.
Jasprit Bumrah (MI) – The over which change the game totally. Even two overs before, MI was on top. It was the 19th over where the Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah conceded 20 runs including three sixes. In that over, the right-arm pacer had lack of control in his bowling as he produced two full-tosses which resulted in sixes. Before the beginning of his over, CSK needed 27 runs in 12 balls. After the six balls, CSK needed only 7 runs in the final over.
Despite Bumrah was able to take the dangerous Bravo’s wicket in his final delivery, MI failed to win that match. Bumrah’s final bowling figure was 4-0-37-1 as he conceded only one boundary (a sixer) in his first 18 balls.
