Agencies/Dubai

He paced himself superbly, aiming at a target of just 142 which had been set up by the Chennai bowlers and Mohit Sharma in particular, who took three wickets in one over and 4-14 overall.

It was the Super Kings’ third victory out of four, and in two of those they had watched the chasing team self-destruct. But McCullum and Dwayne Smith laid the foundation for victory, gaining revenge for their loss in the final last year with an opening partnership of 57 in 38 balls.

Smith had struck four sixes in his 29 runs and was looking for another when he was well taken by a diving Corey Anderson. Harbhajan Singh claimed Suresh Raina (1) and Faf du Plessis (20) with stumpings, but McCullum stayed true to cause. His innings, off 53 balls, contained eight fours and two sixes.

Having lost the toss, the Super Kings’ bowlers simply got down to business and bowled superbly to throttle the Indians and hold them to 31 in the power play. Among those runs, though, were the wickets of Mike Hussey (1), whose hesitant start to the IPl season worsened when he was bowled by a brilliant delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus, and Aditya Tare (23), who was surprised by a slower delivery from Mohit Sharma, the first of his four wickets.

Corey Anderson, who had been moved up the order, and Rohit Sharma set out to impose themselves on the bowlers. They moved to 57 at the halfway mark, and in the next five overs, hammered 51 runs. Whereas the first 50 had plodded through 58 deliveries, the next 50 sprinted through 28.

They took the score to 109 when Anderson was run out with a direct hit from Ravi Ashwin at mid-on for 39. Kieron Pollard was sent in to take advantage of the situation, but the moment had gone. The bowling tightened up and Rohit Sharma, reaching his 50, off 41 balls (3x4, 2x6) also fell to a slower ball, from Hilfenhaus, and pulled tamely to square leg.

Eight balls later they were 127 for seven, all undone by the slower deliveries of Mohit Sharma, who, naturally, earned the Man of the Match award. Ambati Rayudu followed Rohit, slogging to long-on, Pollard mistimed an extravagant pull and Harbahjan Singh weakly cut to point, giving Sharma the impressive return of 3-2 off the 19th over.

The target of 142 proved well shy of what was needed. Chennai are at the top of the log, just behind Kings XI Punjab on run-rate, while Mumbai remain rooted to the bottom of the log.