Sachin Tendulkar's (45) departure due to exhaustion led to a sensational batting collapse of Mumbai Indians as Chennai Super Kings thrashed them by 24 runs in an Indian Premier League match in Chennai on Tuesday .
Chasing a modest target of 166, Mumbai were cruising all along before Tendulkar left the field in the ninth over at 62 for one after making a 28-ball 36 which contained six fours.
But once he left, Mumbai lost way with wickets falling like nine pins and they could make just 141 for nine in 20 overs as their five-match winning streak was snapped at the packed M A Chidambaram Stadium.
Chennai produced a superb bowling and fielding display and turn on the heat on the Mumbai Indians once Tendulkar left the field under hot conditions.
All the CSK bowlers took wickets with Thilan Thushara and Ramachandran Ashwin being the most successful with two wickets apiece by conceding 16 and 22 runs respectively.
Sudeep Tyagi, Doug Bollinger, Shadab Jakati and Suresh Raina chipped in with a wicket each.
Their fielding was also spot one with some fine catches, especially those of Thilan Thusara and Murali Vijay, besides saving runs to put pressure on the Mumbai batsmen.
Earlier, electing to bat, Chennai made 165 for four with Matthew Hayden top-scoring with a 31-ball 35, while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18-ball 31) and S Badrinath 22-ball 30 not out) making useful contributions.
With today's win, their third on the trot, CSK are now at fourth spot with 10 points in 10 matches while Mumbai retained the top spot with 14 points from nine matches.
Except for 45 by Tendulkar, who could add just nine runs after his return in the 15th over, and a late flourish of 23-ball 33 by Harbhajan Singh, the remaining Mumbai batsmen came a cropper with five of them failing to reach double figures.
From 62 for one when Tendulkar left at the end of ninth over and till he returned ti face the third ball of the 15th over after his side was 89 for seven, Mumbai lost six wickets from in 5.3 overs with the addition of just of 27 runs.
Tendulkar returned in the 15th over but could add just nine runs after facing seven balls. His 35-ball 54 contained six fours.
Harbhajan Singh made a late charge scoring a 23-ball 33 but it was too little too late as Mumbai Indians could score just 141 for nine. PTI
