A Match which will last forever!!

25^th MAY 2014 will reminisce forever:

Some would not have realized that MI (Mumbai Indian) will qualify for the playoffs. But, yes we are in top 4 now, certainly one of the best team of this IPL, A team which is known for their comeback performances and that’s why people call us Champions!! People said we are off as we lost 5 games in a row in UAE. At times we are bottom of the table. 

Toss:

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma won the toss & elected to field first. He believes the wicket would not change much and chasing would be easy where they can manage 12-15 runs in slog overs as they had extra batsman in playing eleven.

Royals Batting:

25th March 2014!! A Match between MI & RR (Rajasthan Royals), started at 8 pm IST.  Was very keen for this match as both teams had fair chances to storm into playoff. Sanju Samson & Shane Watson were at the crease in spite of Rahane & Nair. Royals tried their new-fangled opening combination in their last league match, may be the message sent out in middle from team management. Before they could start capitalizing their innings, Watson got out on 8. Karun Nair came down in middle to share the crease with Samson. Both the uncapped players got settle down quickly and started scoring runs all over the ground. Karun was more attacking in these two, he hits boundaries very easily and rotate strikes too. After 10 overs royals were 65 for 1. MI camp were very happy by their performance but the magic start then for RR, Next 4 overs they scored 64 runs and the run rate goes up by mammoth. Now these batsmen were settled down and unstoppable, both scored 50 and made 100 run partnerships in just 65 deliveries but then Nair got out. Nevertheless!! He already had done his part, RR camp looked quite confident as they scored 189 in 20 overs.

Target to chase: 190 in 87 deliveries

Now, it’s Mumbai Indians turn as they have to chase 190 in 87 deliveries. It was IM –Possible mission to achieve the target in 14.3 overs but whatever happened in next 90 mints rest will be the history, and that’s what I can say it is only MI (Mumbai Indian) – Possible. 

MI opening pair Simmons & Hussy were into the crease, they don’t had other choice rather than chasing the target within the given overs to qualify for the playoffs. Both had started rotating the strike and getting 2-3 boundaries in an over. scoreboard was ticking up recklessly and had 50 runs on the board in first 4 overs only. But still we needed 13 runs per over to win and was confident of getting this dreadful target. Cory Anderson had taken charges and scored his 1^st half century of the season in a situation like do or die. Till the time we reached 100, 3 MI batsmen were already in pavilion. Now, it looked very challenging to achieve on as power hitting batsmen like Kieran pollard got out on 7. But, a never say die attitude of a New Zealand batsmen Cory Anderson makes it easy, it looked like he had already written the script.

15^th over: 9 runs required in 3 balls, Cory was on the strike, Faulkner on the running end, the death over specialist bowler who did the job for Royals earlier in many occasions. Faulkner started running, 1^st delivery Cory hit hard to the third man but gets only single, Rayudu, it’s time to deliver and show to your critics that why you get retained in MI family. My heartbeats rose up 5 times than normal, 2 balls 8 runs needed to qualify. Raydu was on strike, looking at his ability he never looked like he can score 8 runs in 2 deliveries. But the next ball he swung it over long leg for six. he shut his critics silent (even me ). Ohh!! this will really be a match of the match!!

Now, 2 runs needed of last ball to qualify!! Everybody was tensed, some were beating the nails, some were superstitious (not moving around), and the last ball guesses what, Rayudu tried to cut a short-of-length ball but it chucked to short extra cover, who underarmed the ball at nonstriker’s end but missed. Rayudu turned back for second and was run out. He sank to his knees and despair… F**k!! I feel devastated. RR started their celebration, wait..wait!! and the news come out from centre that, if MI could score next ball a boundary they will through in and qualify for playoffs by better NRR (Net run rate).  Aditya Tare was the new batsman who has to face the next delivery and has to score boundary to reach into playoffs. I have not seen such moments before!! Final ball, Tare…Tare …and Tare swung it over long leg to six……..!!! Tare, Cory started their celebration. Tare raised his t-shirt above his head and ran away like a football player possessed.

What a stunning match!!  Ohh! man this could be the best match of IPL history…

Signing off with this!! hope many more to come in coming days.. Thanks!!