Blazing Bravo helps Chennai win opener

West Indies all-rounder scores 68 off 30 to help side beat Mumbai

MUMBAI: Dwayne Bravo hit a blazing 68 to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pull off a thrilling chase and open the 2018 Indian Premier League season with a one-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday.

After a glitzy opening ceremony in the Bollywood capital, it was Bravo who set the stage on fire with his 30-ball blitz that allowed Super Kings chase down 166 with a ball to spare.

West Indies' Bravo was out on the last ball of the penultimate over and it was Kedar Jadhav who sealed the game for Super Kings with a six and a four against Mustafizur Rahman.

Jadhav, who suffered a thigh strain in the middle of his innings and will be out of action for a few weeks, hit 24 off 22 deliveries for Super Kings who are returning to the cash-rich T20 tournament after an illegal gambling ban.

"CSK-MI is one game that people wait to watch. We're coming back after two years, that's also the reason that people are eager to watch us in action," Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after the win. "The way Bravo batted, it was really good to see him take the responsibility."

Paceman Hardik Pandya and debutant leg-spinner Mayank Markande claimed three wickets each to hurt the Super Kings' chase but Bravo had other ideas.

The big-hitting West Indian hit three fours and seven sixes after coming in to bat in the 13th over of the innings with his side struggling at 75-5.

Bravo took away 20 runs off the 18th over from New Zealand paceman Mitchell McClenaghan to set up an exciting finish as Super Kings needed 27 off 12 deliveries and Jadhav finished it off in style.

"Not feeling good at the moment. We have to give the credit to Bravo. We tried to get the yorker but we couldn't get it. We need to improve our execution," said Sharma. "We were in the game till the 17th over. Anyway, good learning for all of us. With the dew coming, it was difficult for the bowlers. We felt we were 10-15 runs short."