Courtesy: BCCI/IPL
On April 24, 2010, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) prevailed against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2010 and lifted the coveted trophy for the first time. Batting first after winning the toss, Chennai posted a fine score of 168/5 in their 20 overs on Navi Mumbai’s difficult batting track. Openers Murali Vijay and Matthew Hayden struggled to deliver a swift start to Chennai, but Suresh Raina stood tall against bowlers and notched up an unbeaten 57 off 35. The southpaw’s innings was studded with six boundaries (three fours and three maximums). CSK skipper MS Dhoni also chipped in with his 22 off 15.
Dilhara Fernando put up a decent bowling show as he claimed 2/23 figures in his four overs and became the most successful bowler for MI in the game. Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga bowled frugal spells but couldn’t grab wickets. Zaheer Khan and Kieron Pollard picked up one wicket respectively in their combined eight-over spell.
CSK held their nerves in the second innings to clinch their maiden title
Defending the total, CSK saw the gallant side of their Australia pacer Doug Bollinger, who got rid of Shikhar Dhawan in the second over of the match. The left-handed opener departed on a duck after consuming eight deliveries. In the crunch situation, MI captain Sachin Tendulkar stepped up and stitched a 66-run partnership with Nayar off 58 balls. Nayar got run out in the 12th over of the match following which MI kept on losing wickets in regular intervals.
Tendulkar also got dismissed in the 15th over of the innings, after scoring 48 off 45. In the final overs of the game, Kieron Pollard displayed fighting spirit but couldn’t take his team home. The Caribbean player went back to the dugout in the penultimate over of the contest, accumulating 27 off just 10. MI could score only 146/9 in their 20 overs and CSK scripted history by becoming the third team to win the IPL. Raina became the player of the match (POTM) award winner for his superb batting show.
