Simmons, who notched up his fifth half century of the competition, struck five sixes and three fours in his 51-ball innings. Along with Parthiv Patel (35), Simmons provided a solid opening stand of 90 runs at nearly 9 runs an over before MI lost quick wickets between the 11th and 16th overs to be in some sort of bother at 139 for 4.
For league table toppers CSK< Dwayne Bravo was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 40 and was mainly responsible for MI not reaching a bigger score after their splendid beginning. Ashish Nehra was fairly economical with 1 for 28 from four overs.
Opting to bat first, MI were again given a sound start by the right-left combine of Simmons and Patel who first raised 48 by the end of six-over Powerplay.
CSK used off-spinner R Ashwin to open the bowling with left arm seam bowler Ashish Nehra and had things under control in the first four overs.
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However, Simmons carted Ashwin in his third over, beyond the straight field and then over the mid-wicket region for two sixes. Simmons, who has been in fine form from the time he came in as replacement for the injured Aaron Finch, then struck a third six - onto the sight screen - off Nehra in the last over of play.
Left-handed Patel, kept quiet at the other end, went after Pawan Negi by lashing a six over long on and then striking two more fours in the 9th over to increase MI's run-rate.
Simmons completed his 5th half-century of the season off 38 balls studded with three fours and four sixes, in the tenth over at the end of which MI had advanced to 86 for no loss with Simmons on 51 and Patel on 32.
Pollard then joined MI skipper Rohit Sharma and immediately started controlling the pace by clouting 2 sixes in one Negi over as the score leapt to 135 for 2 at the end of 15 overs. It was Pollard who kept hitting big shots as MI reached par score in the end.