CSK vs MI Qualifier 1, Report Card

CSK vs MI Qualifier 1, Report Card: A thrilling encounter in the first Qualifier of the IPL 8 finished as a one sided contest in the end. MI dominated with both the bat and the ball throughout the game and CSK have much thinking to do before their next game against one of RCB and RR. Here’s a look at how the players from both sides fared tonight.

Chennai Super Kings

Dwayne Smith – 0:

DR Smith might be considered very unlucky as he was given out on the delivery that looked nowhere close to the stumps and was surely missing the leg-stump as reviews suggested. His form has deteriorated towards the end of the tournament. No other significant contribution to the game and thus no rating points for him.

Mike Hussey – 2:

Hussey tried his best to get his team going but he got out early with a poor shot and edged it to the MI wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel off a Vinay Kumar delivery.

Faf du Plessis – 6:

Faf was the only batsman who really looked threatening and looked liked taking the game away from MI. But eventually got out at the wrong time and gave the momentum to MI back.

Suresh Raina – 5:

A lazy shot off Harbhajan and the bowler caught it easily. Raina is CSK’s most successful batsman and he was expected to score runs in such a high scoring game.

MS Dhoni – 0:

Surprisingly MSD wasn’t his usual self. Dhoni was out first ball off Harbhajan. Dhoni’s finishing skills were sorely missed and CSK lost the game after Raina and Dhoni’s crucial wickets fell at a key juncture.

Dwayne Bravo – 7:

Dwayne Bravo was easily the best CSK player in the game. Bravo picked up 3 wickets and was miserly in his first two overs’. Gave away a few runs in the latter half of his spell but crucially he picked up 3 wickets. Also his batting was disappointing but he did his job with the ball.

Ravindra Jadeja – 5:

His bowling was below par but picked up a wicket. Jadeja also grabbed some important catches in the field. Did little with the bat but he was sent into a situation where CSK had little hope of winning the game.

Pawan Negi – 0:

Poor bowling coupled with equally poor batting performance results in Negi getting a zero rating.

Ravichandran Ashwin – 3:

Did little with the bowl and he needs to pick up more wickets for he is one of the strike bowler in this CSK team. He was impressive with the bat as he scored some quick runs towards the end.

Mohit Sharma – 2:

Picked up a wicket but was very expensive with an economy rate of 11. Mohit Sharma wasn’t able to contain any of the MI batsmen.

Ashish Nehra – 4:

Picked up just 1 wicket but was one of the economical bowlers on the day for CSK. But he surely lost his form and his performances have dipped towards the end of the season.

Mumbai Indians

Lendl Simmons – 9:

Lendl Simmons was exceptional with the bat and his form has been crucial to MI’s resurgence this season. Hit some powerful blows around the ground and kept MI ticking.

Parthiv Patel – 7:

Was solid with the bat and gave a platform to the MI innings by forming an important partnership with Simmons. Particularly, had the presence of mind to run Bravo out which turned out to be a crucial moment in the match.

Rohit Sharma – 4:

Scored 19 but was largely disappointing with the bat and left MI in a tight spot when he got out. Rohit was expected to finish the innings and thus failed to have a major impact on the game.

Kieron Pollard – 9:

Kieron Pollard was explosive with the bat and hit some big sixes around the ground with a strike rate of 241. He essentially ensured that MI finished on a high. Was decent with the ball but didn’t pick up any wickets.

Hardik Pandya – 0:

No notable contribution from the young man. Pandya was promoted up the order but failed to impact the match in any way. He will want to do better in the final.

Ambati Rayudu – 2:

Was wasteful with the bat but caught Ashwin towards the end of the innings. But more will be expected of Ambati Rayudu in the next game.

Harbhajan Singh – 8:

Hit a boundary in the three balls he played but he was absolutely crucial in MI’s win with his bowling. Harbhajan picked up the 2 most successful CSK players in the IPL. 2 balls 2 wickets. Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni were removed off by Bhajji which in turn shifted the game around for MI.

Jagdeesha Suchith – 3:

Didn’t get enough chances to prove himself but Suchith did pick up a wicket when called upon. He would want to improve his economy rate, though.

Mitchell McClenaghan – 2:

Mitchell McClenaghan had a forgetful night. Was poor with the ball and went for a plenty of runs. He picked up a wicket but gave away 46 runs in just 3 over’s.

R Vinay Kumar – 6:

Had a decent time with the ball and picked up 2 wickets for his efforts. Hussey’s wicket at the top was an important one. Vinay also caught Negi towards the end of CSK’s innings.

Lasith Malinga – 9:

Lasith Malinga was brilliant with the ball. Will consider himself lucky to pick up Smith’s wicket which was a contentious decision. But Malinga was at his lethal best. Miserly and cleaned up that tail with relative ease. He finished with figures of 4-0-23-3.