Dwayne Bravo, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder said that any match against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) feels like a final. Dwayne Bravo’s remarks came after due to his all-around performance CSK defeated Mumbai Indians by 20 runs on Sunday here at the Dubai International Stadium.
For CSK, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad had played an unbeaten inning of 88 runs as the MS Dhoni-led outfit posted 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs despite being in troubles after being 24/4 inside the powerplay. Dwayne Bravo also played a cameo of 23 runs from just eight balls, including three massive sixes besides picking 3 scalps.
Dwayne Bravo: Playing Against IPL’s Toughest Team MI Is Like A Final
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 88 to bail CSK out of trouble batting first. The MS Dhoni-led outfit posted 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs after being 24 for four inside the powerplay. CSK was 24/4 at one stage and Ambati Rayudu was retired hard but the momentum was shifted after opener Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 88 off 58 balls which included 9 fours and 4 sixes.
Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo scored 26 and 23 respectively before being dismissed while Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, and MS Dhoni couldn’t contribute even 5 runs each.
“It’s a good feeling, obviously against MI it’s the toughest team in IPL and it’s like a final playing against them, always a good feeling to win. Just tried to protect me in the last stages of CPL and when I came over here, just had one bowling session which was yesterday, and happy to get 4 overs through today.”
“Now I bat lower down the order with the batting line-up like CSK, for me, it’s just about trying to get the momentum and try to capitalize, adjust and adapt,” Dwayne Bravo told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match ended.
“Just try to give the best of my ability whenever I go out to bat. Gaikwad has been our star player end of last season and this season and he is a quality player. Played proper cricket shots and played till the end. He has an appetite for runs and it’s good to get over the line this game,” he added.
For CSK, pacers Dwayne Bravo scalped three wickets and Deepak Chahar took two scalps. For Mumbai Indians, Saurabh Tiwary was the highest scorer after playing a knock of 50 runs.
CSK Goes On Top Of The IPL 2021 Points Table
With this win, Chennai Super Kings went to the top of the IPL table while Mumbai is now in danger of falling outside the top 4 if they get on a losing streak. CSK will next lock horns against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Friday. With Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 33), Ruturaj Gaikwad added 81 off 64 balls for the fifth wicket.
That set the platform for some late-overs hitting, which Ruturaj Gaikwad and Dwayne Bravo (23 off 8) did with aplomb, Super Kings taking 58 off the last four overs. MI never looked comfortable in their chase and was 94/6 before recovering slightly but couldn’t manage more than 136.
With 3 wickets, Dwayne Bravo becomes the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history after Lasith Malinga(170) and Amit Mishra (166). He has taken 159 scalps from 145 matches.
Chennai Super Kings 156 for 6 (Gaikwad 88*, Jadeja 26, Milne 2-21) beat Mumbai Indians 136 for 8 (Tiwary 50*, Bravo 3-25, D Chahar 2-19) by 20 runs