Chennai Super Kings required nine keeps running off the last finished yet the accomplished Lankan paceman Malinga kept his nerve to yield seven.
In the fabulous finale of VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL 2019), Lasith Malinga created a mind boggling last over to protect nine keeps running as Mumbai Indians(MI) guaranteed undisputed matchless quality in the Indian Premier League by protecting their fourth title with a limited one-run prevail upon Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a throbbing last at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad on Sunday. Super Kings required nine keeps running off the last finished however the accomplished Lankan paceman Malinga kept his nerve to yield seven.
He caught Shardul Thakur leg before in the last ball after Watson (80 off 59) got run out two balls before. Before that Jasprit Bumrah kept Mumbai in the chase with his clean overs and two wickets, disposing of Dwayne Bravo and Ambati Rayudu. The head Indian pacer delivered 13 speck balls in his testing overs.
Youthful leg-spinner Rahul Chahar likewise assumed a key job in the center overs as he also made weight by bowling 13 dab balls. The two groups were tied at three IPL titles each heading into the finale with Mumbai holding the high ground, having beaten CSK thrice before in the challenge.
CSK had made a steady start by reaching 53 for one in the Powerplay but Mumbai bounced back in the middle overs, removing a struggling Suresh Raina (8 off 14) before getting rid of Rayudu to have CSK under the pump.
The biggest moment came of the game in the 13th over when Dhoni was run-out trying to steal an extra single. An alert Ishan Kishan was spot on with his direct hit and he just about managed to get the better of Dhoni. Since it involved the CSK skipper, high drama was on display as third umpire Nigel Llong saw replays with all possible angles and took his time before making a very difficult decision.
It was an outstanding effort from Chahar (1/14) in the middle overs, putting CSK under tremendous pressure as they could collect only 16 runs between 11-15 overs with loss of two wickets. Against the run of play, Watson walloped Malinga three fours and a six in the 16th over that went for 20 runs and kept CSK in the game….
