MUMBAI, India, CMC – West Indies stroke-maker Dwayne Smith struck his fifth half-century of the Indian Premier League season in a Man-of-the-Match performance, to fire Chennai Super Kings to a four-wicket victory over former club Mumbai Indians here yesterday.
Chasing 158 at the Wankhede Stadium, Chennai were propelled by Smith’s measured 57 from 51 deliveries, to reach their target with three balls to spare and post their seventh win in nine games.
Smith controlled the run chase for Chennai, putting on 29 for the first wicket with Brendon McCullum (13) and a further 27 for the second wicket with Suresh Raina (19).
However, at 56 for two in the eighth over, the Chennai innings needed impetus and got it through Smith, who anchored a 63-run, third wicket stand with Faf du Plessis (31).
The Barbadian right-hander counted five fours and three sixes, and took a liking to West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard who he smashed for two fours and a six, in the tenth over of the innings that cost 15 runs.
Pollard’s 2.3 overs leaked 42 runs.
Smith eventually perished attempting sixes off consecutive balls in the 16th over, taken in the deep on the third attempt by another Windies teammate Lendl Simmons.
Smith now has 396 runs at an average of 44.
Earlier, Simmons stroked a run-a-ball 38 but Pollard fell for a first ball ‘duck’ as Mumbai reached 157 for six after they were sent in.
Simmons hit three fours and two sixes and added 61 for the second wicket with Ambati Rayudu who top scored with 59 from 43 balls.
