Rohit Sharma and Lendl Simmons hit half-centuries as Mumbai Indians demolished Chennai Super Kings by 41 runs to win their second Indian Premier League title, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
Mumbai Indians posted an imposing 202 for five as skipper Rohit Sharma (50) and Lendl Simmons (68) rattled up a 119-run stand off just from 67 balls after being invited to bat.
The Mumbai captain, who hit the One-Day International world record score of 264 and also his debut Test hundred at the Eden Gardens, yet again exploded at his favourite venue.
Sharma (6 fours, 2 sixes) and Simmons (8 fours, 3 sixes) plundered 19 boundaries in their partnership.
After Sharma and Pollard's dismissal off consecutive deliveries, burly West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard (36) in the company of Ambati Rayudu (36 not out) led the side past 200.
Mumbai's bowlers complimented the good work of the batsmen as they took the fizz out of the Chennai's chase with a very disciplined effort.
Chennai's batsmen never got going and finished on a disappointing 161 for eight as seasoned spinner Harbhajan Singh took key wickets of Dwayne Smith (57) and Suresh Raina (28) to finish with two for 34.
Kiwi paceman Mitchell McClenaghan (3/25) continued his good form, while Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga (2/25) was also among the wickets.
Mumbai had won their first title in 2013 at this very venue, defeating the same rivals. Chennai have lost four finals (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015) out of six appearances.
Chasing the huge target, CSK opted to have it easy and concetrated on building a platform after losing Michael Hussey (4) early.
Smith and Raina bided their time and looked to consolidate but it meant that they managed only 31 runs from the first six overs. The required run-rate kept on going up and shot past 13 at the midway mark.
Smith completed his half-century from 45 balls before he was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan in his penultimate over. Having made a grand comeback into the Bangladesh-bound Test side, Harbhajan completed his spell in style dismissing Raina.
Looking to step out, Raina was brilliantly deceived by the veteran off-spinner who bowled a wide ball and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel did the rest behind the stumps.
With Hussey, Smith and Raina back in pavillion, and skipper Dhoni not looking in his usual elements it looked as good as over for the yellow brigade who choked in an IPL final for the fourth time.
Mumbai captain Rohit, who has an ODI world record of 264 and also a debut Test hundred at the Eden Gardens, yet again exploded at his favourite venue.
Sharma slammed his third IPL fifty this season while Simmons was again consistent with a 45-ball 68 his sixth half-century as the duo put on a handsome 119 from 67 balls.
After the duo's dismissal in successive balls, Ambati Rayudu (36 not out) and Kieron Pollard (36) put on 71 runs from 40 balls for the fourth wicket to power them to a 200-plus total.
Put in, the start however was ominous for MI who were reduced to one for one in the first over after Faf du Plessis produced a gem of a run out to dismiss Parthiv Patel for a duck.
The South African dived, got hold of the ball and flicked it while being air-borne and the magical throw was enough to clip the bails off to bring an end to Patel's fine run as an opener.
In came Sharma and after two dot balls, he went in counter-attacking mode hitting Mohit Sharma over third man with an uppercut over thirdman for a six.
He survived a brief scare when he in inside edged one but the ball missed the stumps by a whisker as boundaries and sixes flew from his blade. He not only timed the shots to perfection but the placements were clinical too.
Sharma raced to 25 runs from 10 balls as Windies big-hitter Lendl Simmons at one point was a mute spectator at the other end.
With Simmons starting to take charge, Sharma slowed down a bit and rotated the strike cleverly giving his partner maximum opportunity. The West Indies right-hander targeted Dhoni's spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Pawan Negi with massive sixes.
The two batsmen fell in successive overs but the twin blow, however, proved to be too little too late as Rayudu and Pollard propelled MI to a match-winning total.
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