Malinga’s Magic vs Johnson’s Fury: MI’s Iconic One-Run IPL Wins
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The conclusion of a tournament often presents a peculiar scenario. It is undoubtedly the most significant match of the entire event, garnering more anticipation than any other game. However, it can occasionally turn into a lopsided contest, failing to meet the heightened expectations. This was not the case in the finals of the 2017 and 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, both of which were clinched by the Mumbai Indians with a narrow victory margin of just one run.
These two finals are the only instances among the 17 that have been contested to date where the winning margin was a single run. For fans of MI, determining which victory was more satisfying is a challenging task, although some may lean towards the latter due to its recency. MI successfully defended their title in 2019, but they have yet to secure another championship since then. Let us take a moment to reflect on those two remarkable finals.
1. MI vs RPS, IPL 2017
The match took place in Hyderabad, where MI batted first. Their performance appeared to be misaligned with the format, as they found themselves at 56/4 following the dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma on the very first ball of the 11th over. However, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, and Hardik Pandya managed to rally, contributing to a total of 129/8, leading many to believe that their chances of winning were slim.
Notably, Mitchell Johnson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Lasith Malinga executed a similar stranglehold on the RPS batsmen, mirroring the difficulties faced earlier in the day. The situation was exacerbated by the lack of assertiveness from Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith during the powerplay. Consequently, by the time Smith was dismissed by Johnson in the 12th over, following a spectacular catch by Pollard, RPS found themselves significantly behind the required run rate. Ultimately, RPS needed 11 runs to win in the final over, with Johnson claiming wickets on the second and third deliveries after Manoj Tiwary had struck a boundary off his first ball. Nevertheless, RPS managed to accumulate three runs from the next two balls, leaving them with a requirement of four runs from the last delivery, and three to push the match into a Super Over. Dan Christian hit the ball towards deep square leg, where a slight fumble occurred, but J Suchith quickly recovered and delivered an excellent throw to the stumps, allowing Parthiv Patel to dislodge the bails. The batsmen ran for two runs, resulting in a narrow victory margin of just one run.
2. MI vs CSK, IPL 2019
Once again, Hyderabad served as the venue, presenting a final that would be remembered for years. The 2019 title match unfolded with dramatic twists and turns, resembling a coiled snake before ultimately revealing its outcome. Pollard's late surge, scoring 41 runs off 25 balls, propelled MI to a total of 149/8 while batting first, but the true narrative revolved around CSK's chase.
It appeared that Shane Watson was poised to guide his team to a second consecutive title, as CSK had a strong position during the first ten overs, concluding that phase at 72/2. However, a dramatic turn of events ensued, driven by the efforts of Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, and Hardik Pandya. Remarkably, the pressure was alleviated during an over bowled by Malinga, where Dwayne Bravo struck a six off the first delivery of the 16th over, followed by Watson hitting three consecutive fours. Although Bumrah restricted runs to just four in the 17th over, Watson responded by hitting Krunal Pandya for three successive sixes in the following over, revitalizing CSK's chances. The situation worsened for MI when wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock mishandled the last ball of the 19th over, allowing four byes, leaving CSK needing nine runs to win in the final over. Rohit entrusted the ball to Malinga once more, and the legendary Sri Lankan bowler rose to the occasion. Watson was run out on the fourth delivery, and Shardul Thakur was dismissed LBW on the last ball.
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