Brilliant half-centuries from Ambati Rayudu (71) and Faf du Plessis (58 not out), added with a fiery six-ball cameo of 18 runs by Sam Curran, helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) edged past Mumbai Indians in the season opener of this year’s Indian Premier League.

Chasing 163, Rayudu and Du Plessis stitched together a match-winning stand of 115 runs after CSK were reduced to 6/2 in just two overs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The result meant that CSK defeated Mumbai for the first time in five matches in the IPL.

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Batting first, regular wickets had hindered Mumbai’s chance of setting a big score on the board. Skipper Rohit Sharma did not last beyond the fifth over and managed only 12 off 10.

However, a gritty 20-ball knock of 30 runs by Quinton de Kock and a gritty performance of 32 runs off 31 balls by Saurabh Tiwary made sure that Mumbai Indians crossed the 150-mark. Hardik Pandya (14) and Kieron Pollard (18) could not wreak havoc as well.

After putting 162 on board, Mumbai Indians had dismissed CSK openers Shane Watson and Murali Vijay were dismissed off consecutive overs before Rayudu and Du Plessis took control.

After limiting MI to 162/9 earlier in the evening, the CSK got off to a shaky start to their chase. Openers Shane Watson and Murali Vijay were dismissed in the first two overs and the CSK found themselves 6/2 at the start of the third. However, the next wicket came only 14 overs later and during this time, du Plessis and Rayudu put up 115 for the third wicket to practically take the game away from MI.

Rayudu took the attack to the opposition, smashing six fours and three sixes in a 48-ball knock. He was also helped by MI not able to hold on to their catches, surviving a close call in the ninth over when he was on 27 and then later off the second ball of the 16th over bowled by Rahul Chahar. He eventually fell off the last ball of the over, with Chahar taking an impressive catch sprinting backwards off his own bowling.

However, Sam Curran then launched a six-ball blinder to close any chance that MI may have visualised of winning the match. du Plessis ended the match with consecutive fours off the first two balls of the 20th and last over.

Brief scores: MI 162/9 (Saurabh Tiwary 42, Quinton de Kock 33; Lungi Ngidi 3/38) lost to CSK 166/5 (Rayudu 71, du Plessis 58 not out; Boult 1/23) by five wickets.

With IANS inputs