
Hyderabad: Magnificent death bowling saw the Mumbai Indians snatch an incredible one-run victory from the jaws of defeat against Rising Pune Supergiant in a thrilling final of IPL X, here on Sunday.
This was the Mumbai Indians' third IPL trophy in 10 editions and more special for their captain Rohit Sharma, who is now the only captain to win title three times. Rohit, in fact, has now been part of four IPL-title winning sides (one for Deccan Chargers in 2009).
For Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it was yet another final that ended in a defeat - fifth in seven summit clashes.
In one of the closest finals during the 10 editions, the trio of Jasprit Bumrah (2/26 in 4 overs), Mitchell Johnson (3/26 in 4 overs) and Lasith Malinga (0/21 in 4 overs) were brilliant defending a lowly total of 129 for eight as Rising Pune were restricted to 128 for 6 at the end.
It was Johnson, who kept his nerve during the final over where 11 runs were needed. Manoj Tiwary smacked the first one to mid-wicket boundary bringing the equation down to 7 from five balls.
However, the next two deliveries turned out to be disastrous for Rising Pune when both Tiwary and skipper Steve Smith (51 off 50 balls) were caught in the deep.
With 4 required off the final ball and 3 for a Super Over, Dan Christian went for an impossible third run only to be run out as the Mumbai Indians players erupted in celebration.
Credit should also be given to Bumrah and Malinga for giving away only 10 runs between them in the 17th and 18th over which suddenly increased the pressure.
While the target was an easy one, it turned out to be tricky with 47 needed off the last five overs.
With Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10) at the crease in company of Smith, the Krunal Pandya over yielded 14 runs. Dhoni square cut Krunal and then Smith played a reverse pull for a six to get 14 runs off the over.
But death overs specialist Bumrah bowled a fuller delivery inducing a thickish edge from Dhoni to bring some cheer back in the Mumbai Indians camp.
At the onset, Rahul Tripathi (3) got a debatable leg before decision off Bumrah's bowling, but Ajinkya Rahane (44 off 38 balls) and skipper Smith added 54 runs for the second wicket.
Krunal dropped a dolly at cover when Rahane, who was on 14, drove a Malinga delivery uppishly.
Since it was a small target, Rahane and Smith didn't take any undue risk during their stand that lasted 9.3 overs.
Rahane hit some crisp shots including a cover drive off Malinga and one off Krunal. They were cruising along nicely till Rahane tried to play a chip shot off a Johnson slower, which Kieron Pollard ran from his long-on position, diving forward to take a nice catch.
Earlier, Rising Pune stifled Mumbai Indians riding on a commendable bowling effort.
Mumbai Indians
L. Simmons c & b Unadkat 3
P. Patel c Thakur b Unadkat 4
A. Rayudu run out 12
R. Sharma c Thakur b Zampa 24
K. Pandya c Rahane b Christian 47
K. Pollard c Tiwary b Zampa 7
H. Pandya lbw Christian 10
K. Sharma run out 1
M. Johnson not out 13
Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-5) 8
Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 129
Fall of wickets: 1/7, 2/8, 3/41, 4/56, 5/65, 6/78, 7/79, 8/129
Bowling: Unadkat 4-0-19-2; Washington 4-0-13-0; Thakur 2-0-7-0; Ferguson 2-0-21-0; Zampa 4-0-32-2; Christian 4-0-34-2
Pune Supergiant
A. Rahane c Pollard b Johnson 44
R. Tripathi lbw Bumrah 3
S. Smith c Rayudu b Johnson 51
MS Dhoni c Patel b Bumrah 10
M. Tiwary c Pollard b Johnson 7
D. Christian run out 4
W. Sundar not out 0
Extras (b-1, lb-5, w-3) 9
Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 128
Fall of wickets 1/17, 2/71, 3/98, 4/123, 5/123, 6/128
Bowling: Krunal 4-0-31-0, Johnson 4-0-26-3, Bumrah 4-0-26-2, Malinga 4-0-21-0, Karn 4-0-18-0
MoM: K. Pandya