Top five matches in the history of the Indian Premier League
IPL and T20 cricket have changed the way the game has been played, and it has produced some of the most memorable and closely-fought matches we have seen. Here is a look back at five of the most nail-biting finishes we have encountered in the IPL till now.
5. Rohit Sharma takes Mortaza to the cleaners as Deccan down Kolkata - 2009
The Knight Riders got off to a slow start in the game as none of their top-order batsmen got going. They were 85/2 when Sourav Ganguly was dismissed in the 15th over, and in desperate need of some momentum at the death. David Hussey came to their rescue with a stunning innings of 43 runs from just 17 deliveries and guided his team to a respectable total of 160 in the end.
Despite having Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs at the top, Deccan failed to score quick runs in the first 10 overs. They required 19 runs in their last over as Murali Kartik and Ishant Sharma produced a couple of fantastic spells to spike up the required run rate. Rohit Sharma was at the crease, and he started off with a boundary off the first ball of Mortaza, which also ended up being a no ball as KKR did not have enough men inside the circle. The Bangladeshi pacer served up a full toss in the third ball, and it was deposited over the midwicket boundary. The Indian star ended the match with a majestic hook shot into the stands and guided his team to a six-wicket win to pile on more misery on the Kolkata-based side.
4. Rajasthan and KKR take it to the super over, before the match was decided on boundary count - 2014
Ajinkya Rahane stole the show for Rajasthan in the first innings with his 72-run knock. But Shakib Al Hasan and Vinay Kumar managed to restrict them to a modest total of 152 runs. Chasing the target, Kolkata got off to a slow start as well with Gautam Gambhir holding the innings together at the top. Kolkata needed 61 runs in their last six overs with Suryakumar Yadav and Shakib at the crease and the duo produced a crucial partnership of 49 runs and took their team close to a victory.
They needed only 16 runs in the last two overs, and that's when James Faulkner picked up three wickets and turned the match on its head. Shakib kept going until the end, though, and with three runs required off the final ball, he managed to tie the game with a couple of runs.
Shakib and Suryakumar came out to bat for KKR in the super over, but Faulkner removed the later in the first delivery. Manish Pandey hit a six to take KKR's score to 11 runs, though. Rajasthan sent out Steven Smith and Shane Watson to chase down the target. They needed only two runs off the last delivery to tie the score, and win the game based on boundary count, and Smith cleverly pushed the ball through extra cover and jogged back for two to complete the win.
Watch the highlights here.
3. Yuvraj pulls off a Jhonty Rhodes moment to end Mumbai’s 6-match winning streak - 2008
The Mumbai Indians came into this match on the back of an amazing run of results, and they were off to a great start when Shaun Pollock dismissed Punjab opener James Hopes for a duck in the third delivery of the match. However, Shaun Marsh and Luke Pomersbach produced a partnership of 133 runs to put the away team in the driving seat, as they went on to post 189 runs in their 20 overs.
Mumbai's top order gave them a solid start with Sachin Tendulkar scoring a solid half-century. In fact, at one point they were cruising to a win at 159/3 in the 17th over. But Tendulkar's dismissal turned the match on its head as Mumbai Indians lost their next four wickets for just 11 more runs. In the last over, Siddharth Chitnis was on strike with his team requiring 19 runs to win the game. He hit VRV Singh for a six and four in the first two deliveries, and it seemed like another twist was on the cards. However, two run outs in the next three deliveries meant Mumbai needed one run to tie the game, while Punjab needed one more wicket to win it. Vikrant Yeligati prodded the ball towards Yuvraj at short cover and ran for his life, but the Punjab skipper took out the stumps with a full-length dive and won his team the game.
Watch the highlights here.
2. Dhoni guides Chennai Super Kings into the playoffs - 2010
Chennai were under a lot of pressure heading into this fixture against the Kings XI Punjab, having already choked against them earlier in the 2010 IPL season. They were in need of a win to grab a place in the playoffs, but Shaun Marsh and his innings of 88 made their task a lot harder. Punjab posted a daunting total of 192, and while chasing the target, Chennai had already lost Matthew Hayden and Murali Vijay by the end of their fourth over.
Suresh Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath brought CSK back into the reckoning with a partnership of 62 runs. By the time Badrinath was dismissed, Chennai needed 44 runs in 18 balls with MS Dhoni and Albie Morkel at the crease. The duo brought it down to 16 in the final over. Pathan missed his yorker with his first delivery and Dhoni dispatched it wide of the long-off fielder with ferocious power. Pathan missed his length once again in the third delivery, and Dhoni pummelled out of the ground to record perhaps the biggest six ever hit at Dharamsala. The Indian skipper ended the match in style with another huge six off Irfan Pathan – like he always does!
(Also take a trip down memory lane with - The end of the Whistlepodu era )
Watch the highlights here.
1. Mumbai Indians chase down 190 to qualify for the playoffs - 2014
It was the last match of the group stage of the 2014 IPL, and Mumbai Indians were in need of a massive win to guarantee themselves a place in the next round. It started off well for the home team as Rohit Sharma won the toss and put Rajasthan into bat. Harbhajan Singh dismissed the dangerous Shane Watson cheaply, however, Sanju Samson (74) and Karun Nair (50) played a couple of blinders as the away team posted a target of 190.
To make matters worse, in order to qualify for the playoffs, Mumbai Indians needed to chase down 190 in 14.3 overs, or 191 in 14.4 overs to overtake Rajasthan in NRR. The home side got off to a quick start, scoring 61 runs in the first five overs – but they also lost three wickets in the process. But Corey Anderson played perhaps the innings of his lifetime, as he lit up the Wankhede Stadium with 9 fours and 6 sixes, as he remained unbeaten on 95 off just 44 balls to guide Mumbai to a thrilling five-wicket win.
Watch the highlights here.
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