This day that year: MI beat CSK to win record 4th IPL title
New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) A blistering knock at the back end of the innings by Kieron Pollard followed by a miserly spell from Jasprit Bumrah that led to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to hail him as “the best bowler in the world” handed Mumbai Indians a win over rivals Chennai Super Kings in the final of the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on May 12 last year.
The win was sweeter this time for MI in the way that this helped them overtake CSK’s title haul to become the most succesfull team in the T20 league’s history. The final was played in Hyderabad, the old home of MI captain Rohit Sharma as he started his IPL career with the Deccan Chargers.
MI won the toss and chose to bat first. Opener Quinton de Kock got them off to a good start in the first four overs with Rohit giving able company at the other end. However, Shardul Thakur returned for his second over to bowl the fifth and made the difference for CSK. He dismissed de Kock just a ball after the latter hit him for a six. Rohit was dismissed by Deepak Chahar in the very next over after which CSK turned the screws.
Chahar’s spell of 3/26 was especially damaging for MI but in the death overs, Pollard managed to get his team close to the 150-run mark and CSK were required to chase 150 to win the match. Pollard was unbeaten on 41 off 25 balls.
The CSK innings turned out to be a one-man show with Shane Watson smashing a quickfire half-century. However, he hardly found any partners at the other end. Watson kept CSK in the chase till the last over however with CSK needing 9 to win. Lasith Malinga had the ball in hand and off the fourth ball, Watson was run out in dramatic fashion on 80 off 59 balls. CSK still needed four to win off the last two balls. Shardul Thakur took two off the penultimate ball but then Malinga bowled a perfect yorker to dismiss Shardul on the final ball and win MI’s fourth IPL title.
Bumrah gave no boundaries in his four-over spell and returned with figures of 2/14. One of his wickets was that of the dangerous Dwayne Bravo.
Both sides were the joint most succesfull teams in the IPL before this match with three titles. CSK had equalised MI’s record just the previous season and with this win, the Rohit Sharma-led side reclaimed the mantle of being the most successful team in the tournament.
–IANS
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