Calcutta: The IPL-VI will be remembered as a tournament of tribulations and distress for the Chennai Super Kings. Despite enjoying an outstanding league phase, their satisfaction was soured by events off the field in the lead-up to the final.

If the unfolding of the spot-fixing scandal over the past few days wasn’t enough, Sunday proved that the circumstances did have an impact on their cricket too. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had stressed at the toss that their confidence remained high, but the 23-run loss showed them in poor light under the glare of the Eden.

The Super Kings’ batting seemed as defenceless as Narayanswamy Srinivasan’s efforts to justify his holding onto the BCCI president’s chair earlier in the evening.

For an overtly excited Sachin Tendulkar, the IPL trophy won’t be missing from his closet. The players had wished to win it for him and didn’t disappoint. The newly-crowned champions should remain indebted to Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga. If the all-rounder provided the impetus to their innings, the fast bowler nipped the Super Kings’ chase in the bud.

Everything seemed to fall in place for the Mumbai Indians. Little wonder then that Malinga had reserved his best for the final.

The meltdown of one of the best T20 bowlers in the world was one of the horror stories of IPL-VI before the final. This was the first time Malinga had conceded almost 450 runs in an IPL year.

But Sunday was different. His double strike in the first over directed the course of the match, stunned the two-time champions and made their strong batting line-up look hollow.

An inswinging yorker derailed Orange Cap holder Michael Hussey off the fourth ball of the innings and then made full use of Suresh Raina’s shortcomings against the short delivery in the next ball.

The well-directed bouncer was aimed at his body and as Raina fended it off, it was left to the backward square leg fielder Dwayne Smith to complete a regulation catch. The wickets of their two most prolific batsmen sent shockwaves through the Super Kings’ dugout.

Mitchell Johnson got into the act removing Subramaniam Badrinath in the next over. There was brief resistance but not strong enough to bring about a change in fortunes.

Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja and Murali Vijay departed in consecutive overs and at 39 for six in the eighth over, the writing was very much on the wall. The target of 149 seemed a far-fetched dream for the Super Kings.

Dhoni stood tall amid the ruins with 63 not out off 45 balls with three boundaries and five sixes. There was none to offer support though.

For a change, a full-house Eden Gardens wasn’t torn between home support and admiring good cricket. With no Kolkata Knight Riders in the fray, it was about pure thrill and enjoyment.

The yellow jerseys surely outnumbered the Mumbai Indians supporters at the Club House and the stands but there was enough backing for Pollard when they batted. At times though, it seemed the crowd was backing the men in blue.

With Sachin being forced to sit out for the final too, Mumbai Indians depended on their openers to give them a head start. That was not to be though as Mohit Sharma and Albie Morkel ensured the top-order didn’t flourish.

At 16 for three, when Rohit Sharma was caught and bowled by Morkel in the fourth over, it seemed their decision to bat wasn’t in keeping with the conditions. Both the pacers got the ball to move in the muggy conditions while giving the batsmen very little room for stroke-making,

Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu tried to bring some sanity but that was not to be. Mumbai Indians have relied on their top-four right through the tournament since they don’t bat deep like the Super Kings. With the top-order failing, it was left to Rayudu (37 off 36 balls) and Pollard to bail them out. The fifth-wicket pair added 48 runs before Dwayne Bravo ended Rayudu’s hopes with his opening delivery.

The task now fell on Pollard and he responded superbly. This was not an innings that imbibed fear in the opposition as was witnessed during his 66 not out off 27 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pollard’s 60 not out off 32 balls on Sunday was more about a calculated approach where he was cautious and concentrated on consolidating the innings before waiting for the loose balls to tear into the bowling. There were a few powerful straight drives that left the bowler stranded and the umpire lucky enough not to take the blow on his body.

He managed to impose that fear factor in the Super Kings’ attack. There was a six over long off Ashwin in the 13 th over that signalled he couldn’t be written off.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has been fined $20,000 after the team maintained a slow over rate during the final. Mumbai Indians were assessed to be three overs behind the required rate.