Mumbai Indians Pulls Off An Incredible Last-ball Triumph

After Pollard takes the side to 149, the bowlers peg back Chennai Super Kings despite Watson’s valiant effort; Malinga delivers the knockout punch

- S. Dinakar

What a final! It was wild, wacky and explosive. There were moments of inspiration and those filled with errors. Between terrific deliveries, sensational catches and direct hits were spilled chances, crucial byes, and ordinary dismissals.

Fortunes swung one way, then the other. And situations threw up heroes. What a finish!

At the end of it all, IPL-12 boiled down to the last over, sent down by that ageless slinger Lasith Malinga. Chennai Super Kings required nine runs and the dangerous Shane Watson was still in the mix.

Malinga bowled with pace and precision, not allowing the batsmen to free their arms. Watson was run-out for a blistering 80 going for a second run. Finally, CSK required two off the final ball and amidst all the tension, Malinga trapped Shardul Thakur with a yorker.

Rohit Sharma and Mumbai were home by one run. The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium erupted, the Mumbai Indians players and fans leaped for joy on a night of swirling emotions. The brave men from CSK were crestfallen.

Mumbai Indians had won an unprecedented fourth title and Malinga was carried by his jubilant teammates off the arena. Old soldiers never die.

Earlier, the match appeared to be going CSK’s way with Watson, innovating and creating, landing the big blows. Malinga went for 20 in the 16th over as Watson and Dwayne Bravo waded into him.

Then, left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya suffered as the big and strong Watson smashed him for three sixes in the 18th over. To top it all, ’keeper Quinton de Kock missed an easy take from Jasprit Bumrah and conceded four byes off the last ball of the penultimate over.

Lucky

There were several pivotal moments in the game. Watson was put down at 31 and 55 — by Malinga at short fine-leg and Rahul Chahar at deep square-leg — with the gallant Bumrah suffering on both occasions.