MI are kings

Tendulkar retires from IPL on a high It was a glorious day for Mumbai Indians. Poetic justice was rendered for the team and marks a magnificent farewell gift to Sachin Tendulkar, who subsequently announced before the packed Eden Gardens that he had played his IPL match on Sunday. They annexed their maiden IPL by winning the sixth edition after defeating two-time champion Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs.

Chasing 149 runs for a win, Chennai batsmen fell at regular intervals after Lasith Malinga set the ball rolling with two majestic dismissals in his first over. It was a brave effort by Mahendra Singh Dhoni (63 not out from 45 balls) that he singlehandedly guided the team to 125 for nine wickets from a pitiable 57/8. Earlier, The battle to emerge as the kings of IPL VI looked like it would be an out and out Chennai Super Kings day. Reeling at 16 for the loss of three wickets after being eight for one, it looked like Mumbai Indians were all set to surrender the tie meekly.

However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys did not reckon with the boisterous and cavalier temperament of Kieron Pollard and the staying prowess of Ambati Rayudu, who together scripted a fine comeback to eventually guide the team to a respectable 148 for the loss of nine wickets. The ever explosive Pollard reached his half-century with a towering a six on the second last ball of the final over. He did an encore on the final delivery to remain unbeaten on 60 that came from 32 balls. His innings was laced with seven boundaries and three sixes. Rayudu and Pollard earlier rescued Mumbai Indians while taking the team score past the three-figure mark in 15 overs. They shared a crucial 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Bravo bowled out Rayudu. Meanwhile, Dwayne Bravo did a commendable job while finishing with four wickets for 42 runs. Earlier, Mohit Sharma fired the first salvo when he accounted for Dwayne Smith in the very first over, after Mumbai won the toss and opted to bat. Albie Morkel cleaned bowled Aditya Tare (0) and subsequently sent back skipper Rohit Sharma with an outstanding return catch. Dinesh Karthik resisted for some time before he fell bowled by Chris Morris. Brief Scores: MI 148/9 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 60no, Dwayne Bravo 4/42) bt CSK 125/9 (Mahendra Singh Dhoni 63no, Mitchell Johnson 2/19, Lasith Malinga 2/22). Man of the match: Kieron Pollard