Mumbai Indians win second IPL title

MS Dhoni was bowled by Lasith Malinga, Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2015, Final, Kolkata,

Lendl Simmons goes for the pull, Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2015, Final, Kolkata, May 24, 2015

The Mumbai Indians completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the eight-year history of the Indian Premier league by transforming a terrible start to the tournament - they were at the bottom of the table for the first two weeks - into a title win.

The final, a repeat of their 2013 success at the same ground against the same opposition, turned out to be one of the easier outings after an unbridled early onslaught by Rohit Sharma and Lendl Simmons, both of whom hit half-centuries, stunned Chennai Super Kings, the veterans of IPL finals, into submission. The Super Kings did were not even given a sniff.

Played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Mumbai Indians batting first achieved a commanding score of 202 for the loss of five wickets. The Chennai Super Kings managed to score only 161 for the loss of eight wickets.

It was the Chennai Super King’s sixth IPL final. For the Mumbai Indians it was their second victory, having won the title first two years ago against the same opponents. 

Chief Scores: Mumbai Indians, 202/5: Lendl Simmons 68, Rohit Sharma 50, Kieron Pollard 36.

Chennai Super Kings: 161/8: D.R. Smith 57, Suresh Raina 28, M.M. Sharma 21 and M.S. Dhoni 18. M.J. McClenaghan 3 for 25, Lasith Malinga 2 for 25 and Harbhajan Singh 2 for 34.