Dark Horse MI Empowers over Table Toppers, CSK in Qualifier 1 MI v CSK: Statistical Review

Dark Horse MI Empowers over Table Toppers, CSK in Qualifier 1 MI v CSK: Statistical Review: We are into the business end of IPL 8 and the Qualifier 1 of the playoffs has been done and dusted with a result that might definitely raise the eyebrows of many. MI have simply outplayed in form CSK in the game to cement their place in the IPL final on Sunday at the Eden Gardens.

Due to their top of the table advantage, Chennai will get another life as they are to play the winner of the Eliminator in the Second Qualifier. Starting from the toss, MI has been on the winning side in perhaps every aspect of the game. After inflicting a concrete start, it was the brute force from Pollard at the death overs to help them pose a target of 187 runs. In reply, CSK looked in definite spots of bother right from the start. An ignited spell by Harbhajan Singh pushed them further into a state of despair and ultimately it ended with CSK finishing second as they fell short of the target by a margin of 25 runs.

The match in Numbers:

• Number of Wickets taken by CSK/MI: 6/10

• Number of Fours hit by CSK/MI: 11/11

• Number of Sixes hit by CSK/MI: 7/12

• Number of Wide deliveries bowled by CSK/MI: 8/5

• Number of No balls bowled by CSK/MI: 1/0

• Highest scorer of the Match: Lendl Simmons (65 off 51 with 3 fours and 5 sixes)

• Highest wicket taker of the match: Lasith Malinga (4-0-23-3)

• Runs scored by CSK/MI in the powerplay overs: MI – 48/0 and CSK – 54/2

• Number of dot deliveries bowled by CSK/MI: 42/34

The other statistical facts of the match:

• Dwayne Bravo has becomes the first player in IPL history to have 1000+ IPL runs and 100+ IPL wickets by his name followed by 50+ catches.

• Simmons scored 65 today which marks the 5^th 50+ score for him in this IPL. Only Tendulkar and Duminy were the other MI players who have done this in the past.

• This game marked MS Dhoni’s second dismissal for a GOLDEN DUCK. Previous one came against Rajasthan Royals back in 2010.

• This match marked the 200^th match for MS Dhoni as a captain in a T20 match. This is the most by any player. It was his 127^th match as a captain for CSK.

• Rayudu has been dismissed by Mohit Sharma for as many as 5 times in this IPL. Even today, Rayudu was dismissed by Sharma. Sharma averages 8.3 against Rayudu.

• This has been the sixth consecutive time that MI has reached to the play offs of the tournament.

• This match marked the second victory for MI against CSK in the play offs. Prior to today’s match, the equation stood as 4-1 in favour of CSK.

• Bravo’s 2 wickets in the match keeps him in retention for the Purple cap with 23 wickets. Another interesting fact in it is that he has taken 21 of those wickets in the last 5 overs of the innings. This fact glorifies his impact in the line up as a death over specialist.

• This match marked the 9^th victory for MI in their last 11 matches which indeed speaks of their performance in the later phases of the IPL.

• This match marked the 26^th victory for Rohit Sharma as the captain of MI in 43 games making him the second most successful captain in IPL by virtue of win percentage. He has a win percentage of 60.46% in this IPL.

All stats updated till 20th may 2015.