Chennai Super Kings are IPL 3 champions
Chennai Super Kings has beaten a strong Mumbai Indians on their own backyard by 22 runs to clinch the IPL 3. They have withstood Pollard’s onslaught to win the title. Suresh Raina’s alround prowess proved very vital in CSK’s in grand finale. Thus Chennai Super Kings becomes the most consistent team in the IPL tournament by reaching the final in the first edition, reached semi-final in the second and third one now belongs to them.
Dhoni, who is one of the shrewd captains, if not the best, has won the toss and immediately elected to bat first. Hayden and Vijay got off to the good start. Hayden hit Harbhajan a grand six and looked to seize the momentum. Young Murali Vijay has clobbered Zaheer Khan followed by hitting Fernando for fantastic sixes over midwicket, which lifted the spirit of the entire team. Vijay went out first to Fernando after the little cameo when he was on 26 from 19.
Hayden who struggled for form has gone out to Pollard for 17. When Badrnath got out to Fernando, CSK were in total disarray for 67/3 in 11.2 overs. Suresh Raina who came in first down was very lucky as he was dropped twice once by Fernando and other one by Zaheer. He capitalized on that played some brilliant shots and also partnered with Dhoni.
Raina and Dhoni rescued the CSK from danger and took the 139 from 17.1 overs. They both have forged 72 runs before Dhoni got out for well took 22 in which one-handed six over mid-on was awesome. Between Suresh Raina scored 57 scored out of 35 balls. Albie Morkel and Anirudha chipped in with some useful runs towards the end. Once CSK was looked like closing in only 130 to 140 but finally managed to get 168 though the last two overs were decent overs. Dilhara Fernando and Harbhajan Singh bowled tightly. Fernando even took 2 wickets.
Chasing a good total of 169, all eyes were on little master though Mumbai Indians have got a formidable batting line-up. As usual R Ashwin opened the bowling and started off with a maiden. Doug Bollinger too was firing at the other end. Dhoni was spot on with his fielding placements and bowling changes. Bollinger took in-form Shikhawar Dhawan for a duck when the score is just one. Abhishek Nayar came in and was living dangerously as he was always running for non-existing singles. Experienced and Brave Sachin was putting him calm but still he was run out smartly for 27 by Dhoni.
Sachin Tendulkar was first time seen very annoyed on the run-out of Nayar. Surprisingly Harbhajan Singh came as a pinch hitter and eventually got out to Raina who was having a dream final. Ambati Rayudu came in and tried his best to accelerate the run-rate. But when Sachin and Saurabh Tiwary went out in the same over due to some excellent fielding, the match seems to be over. But Kieron Pollard kept the hopes on MI by his explosive batting. He has scored 22 runs from Bollinger’s over, which was the 18th over. Morkel came in bowled that beautiful over and even got Pollard’s wicket. Smart field placement of placing Hayden in short mid-off from fine-leg by Dhoni worked out for the team.
Finally CSK won MI in their own ground by 22 runs thus won the IPL for the first time and become the most consistent team in the tournament so far.
