Mumbai, May 14: After a disastrous start where they lost 4 important wickets with just 46 runs on the board, Chennai Super Kings came back strongly as the result of a 95 runs partnership between MS Dhoni and S Badrinath to post a respectable 156 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their quota of 20 overs. The last 5 overs produced 67 runs.

Earlier, Super Kings started steadily but lost their way in the third over as Vidyut was sent back to the pavilion by Shaun Pollock after making just 16. Thereafter, the Chennai team lost wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to a mere 57 runs for the loss of four wickets at the half way stage in their innings.

Sachin Tendulkar, making his debut in the Indian Premier League started on an auspicious note as he won the toss and put Chennai Super Kings in to bat in the 36th match of the IPL being played here at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai may only be on 6 points and third from bottom in the standings, but the fact that they have played two matches lesser than all other teams works in their favour. With Sachin Tendulkar back in the side, the Mumbai Indians will be charged up to perform under his leadership. Chennai are now at third position with 12 points, but captain Dhoni and his team cannot relax as they have a further five matches to go.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who said he would have fielded first had he won the toss, watched his side slump to 46 for 4 but an important 95-run stand with S Badrinath set up a fighting total on an evening when the swing bowlers had a major say at the Wankhede Stadium.

Sachin Tendulkar's return meant that Shaun Pollock wasn't leading Mumbai today but his immaculate early spell (4-1-9-1) led an impressive bowling effort in what was a see-saw battle first up. Mumbai's seamers dominated the first half before Dhoni and Badrinath redressed the balance.

The pair improvised when the opportunity presented but it was Dhoni's fierce hitting that gave the bowlers no chance - even if he wasn't in position the power behind the shots was always going to take it to the boundary ropes. Badrinath, who repertoire ranges from the square drive on the back foot to the paddle over short fine leg, brought up his second successive fifty in what was another rescue mission from a top-order collapse.

It was a slew of medium-pacers who propelled Mumbai to an upset win over the Rajasthan Royals in the previous game and they utilised bowler-friendly conditions here too. The ball swung around through the innings and six medium-pacers shaped the ball either way to make life difficult for the batsmen.

Pollock turned in a typically miserly spell, including a maiden to finish off against a relatively new Dhoni. He should have had Stephen Fleming in the first ball of the second over - when an edge fell just short of first slip - or even in the third - when Sanath Jayasuriya muffed a skier at point - but he had to settle for S Vidyut's wicket two balls later when Rohan Raje clung on to another skier at mid-off.

Suresh Raina fell poking to an away-swinger from Dwayne Bravo before Chamara Kapugedera, the right-hander, did exactly the same to Dhawal Kulkarni's nippy away-cutter. Bravo returned for another wicket - clutching onto a superb diving catch off his own bowling - but Badrinath had done enough by then to keep Chennai in the contest.