MI beat CSK by 1 run to win IPL championship title 4th time

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated  Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 1 (one) run in the final that went to wire at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, to win the IPL championship title for the fourth time. MI had earlier won the IPL championship in 2013, 2015, and 2017. This was MI’s fourth victory over CSK in IPL-12.

MI had nearly lost the lost the match after two 20 runs overs-  one each bowled by Lasitha Malinga and spinner Krunal Pandya. But, Malinga redeemed himself by taking the wicket of Shardul Thakur on the last ball of the 20th over when CSK needed just 2 runs to win the match. It was a thriller of the match. It was the 4th IPL final between the two teams with MI winning thrice ( 2013, 2015, and 2019) while CSK won in 2010. MI had also defeated RPS  by 1 run in 2017 final.

Chasing a target of 150 runs, CSK opener Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson began well scoring 33 runs in 3.5 overs. They, however, lost the wicket of Du Plessis  on the last ball of the 4th over at the score of 33. Faf du Plessis fell to Krunal Pandya for 26 in 13 balls hitting 3 fours and a six. CSK lost their 2nd wicket at 70 when Suresh Raina fell to spinner Rahul Chahar for 7. Ambati Rayudu fell to Jasprit Bumrah for 1 while captain M S Dhoni was run out by Ishan Kishan for 2 and it was 82/4.

But Opener Shane Watson kept plundering runs hitting Lasith Maling for 3 fours and a six in the 16th over, Malinga conceded 20 runs in that over. Watson then got after Krunal Pandya and hit him for three consecutive sixes in the 18th overs. Krunal Pandya leaked 20 runs in that over. Fortunately for MI, Watson was run out by Krunal Pandya-De Kock duo for 80 in 59 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes and it was 146/6 after 19.4 overs. Dwayne Bravo fell to Bumrah for 15 with a six. Shardul Thakur scored 2 and was lbw on the last ball of the 20th over.

Jasprit Bumrah took 2/14 in his 4 overs. Spinner Rahul Chahar was also equally economical taking 1/14 in 4 overs. Sachin Tendulkar praised Rahul Chahar and said he was fabulous.

Earlier opting to bat after winning the toss, MI had scored a modest 149/8 in 20 overs with Kieron Pollard scoring an unbeaten 41 in 25 balls hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes while opener Quinton de Kock scored 29 in 17 balls hitting 4 sixes. Ishan scored 23 while captain Rohit Sharma scored 15 in 14 balls with a four and a six.