Michael Hussey - 86 from 58 balls
Michael Hussey's awe-inspiring 86 from 58 balls helped Chennai beat Mumbai by massive 48-run margin to qualify for their fourth consecutive final of the Indian T20 tournament.
The left-hander made his intentions clear from the start and smacked the first ball of the innings, from Mitchell Johnson, for a four. That set the tone and Hussey, and his opening-partner Murali Vijay, set about their methodical demolition of Mumbai's attack.
Hussey targeted Johnson again in the third over and cut the fast bowler through point for another four. By the end of the over, Chennai were already scoring at a rate of nine.
Mumbai's captain Rohit Sharma turned to Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga to produce the breakthrough. But that didn't work either, as Hussey pounced on wayward bowling from Malinga and clobbered him for two boundaries in the fifth over. Harbhajan got similar treatment an over later.
Chennai suffered a setback in the eighth over as Vijay fell to Kieron Pollard. But his was the only wicket that Mumbai managed as Hussey and Suresh Raina joined forces to orchestrate a counter-attack.
Both batsmen hit boundaries at will and spared no one. By the end of the 15th over, Chennai were 125 for one at a rate of 8.33. The flood gates opened in the last five overs, as the left handed-duo switched gears. Raina dispatched the Mumbai bowlers for five fours and two sixes and Hussey added the icing in the 20th over, with a six and a four of Malinga to help his side post a formidable 193.
Barring an onslaught upfront from opener Dwayne Smith, who scored 68 from 28, none of Mumbai's batsmen came good. They managed just 144 and were dismissed with eight balls to spare.
"Anything can happen in T20. We need to adapt to the different conditions as quickly as we can," Hussey said after winning the Man-of-the-Match award. "We are lucky we have some fine players down the list. I know I have some very good hitters to come in around me."
Dhoni said that Hussey and Raina's innings were decisive in the win. "What we tell our players is whoever gets a good start, make sure you win the game for the team. That's what Hussey and Raina did. Hussey gave us a good start but Raina, the way he batted, gave us the edge that we needed."