Mumbai Indians on Thursday sent defending champions Chennai Super Kings packing at 97 and won by five wickets. Pacer Daniel Sams (3/16 from 4 overs) ran a riot with three quick wickets crumbling down CSK’s top order in a fiery opening spell.
CSK made the smallest target with 31 balls to spare.
MI were four wickets down for 33 runs in the fifth over before Tilak Verma (34 not out off 32 balls) and Hrithik Shooken (18) calmed the frayed nerves with a 48-run stand for the fifth wicket. MI reached 103 for 5 in 14.5 overs. Tim David remained not out on 16 off just seven balls.
With their eighth loss in 12 matches, CSK are out of reckoning for a play-offs berth. They remained at ninth position with eight points.
Already out of reckoning for a play-offs berth long time ago, MI remained rooted at the 10th and bottom place with three wins from 12 matches.
Both CSK and MI have two inconsequential matches left to be played. It will be the first time in IPL history that neither MI nor CSK would be part of the play-offs.
MI were 36 for 4 after powerplay and Hrithik Shokeen survived after a review.
Moeen Ali broke the fifth-wicket partnership between Varma and Shoken by having the latter in the 13th over but it was too late as MI needed just 17 runs from 7.2 overs.Riley Meredith and Kumar Kartikeya chipped in with two wickets apiece while Jasprit Bumrah and Ramandeep Singh got one each as CSK innings folded in 16 overs.
