Ponting's Indians surge into IPL top four

The Ricky Ponting coached Mumbai Indians have surged into the IPL top four after securing a fifth straight victory with a thrilling win over Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings.

It looked unlikely that the Indians would be the team to hand the Super Kings a first home loss with Mumbai requiring 30 runs to win off the final two overs.

It was then that Hardik Pandya turned match-winner, belting three consecutive sixes off spinner Pawan Negi’s to start the penultimate over before Ambati Rayudu hit the last ball for another six.

There would be another twist before the Indians secured victory with Super Kings star Ravindra Jadeja putting down Pandya at deep midwicket, allowing Rayudu to hit the winning boundary with an edge to third man to secure the six-wicket win.

Earlier, Chennai had set the Indians a challenging total of 158-4 on a slow pitch with Dhoni the top scorer with an unbeaten 39 from 32 deliveries.

The Indians made a perfect start to the run chase with Partiv Patel and Lendl Simmons combining for an 84-run opening stand before a dramatic middle order collapse saw the momentum swing back to Chennai.

Ravi Ashwin dismissed both the Indians openers in the 11th over before Dwayne Bravo ran out West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard in the following over as Mumbai lost three wickets for just two runs to be precariously placed at 86-3.

However, Pandya and Rayudu would combine for the match-winning partnership of 34 after Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 18.

Ponting refused to take credit for Mumbai’s resurgence after the Indians lost their opening four matches.

“It has been a great turnaround but it has nothing to do with me,” Ponting told the IPL website.

“Full credit to the players to show that kind of character when our backs were to the wall.”

The Indians, who have six wins overall, sit in fourth place on the IPL table with three matches remaining.