Mumbai Indians lifted the IPL trophy for the third time by beating Rising Pune Supergiants by just one run. Rohit Sharma and Co stifled Pune's chase of 129 runs with Jasprit Burmah and Mitchell Johnson sending down two brilliant last overs that pinned Pune to 128 for six.
Pune were on target thanks to superlative knocks by opener Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 44 off 38 deliveries with 5 boundaries and Steve Smith who hit 51 off 50 balls, that included two boundaries and equal number of sixes. But Mumbai's bowlers never gave up and managed to defend the small target by limiting Pune agonisingly short by one run.
Mitchell Johnson and Jasprit Bumrah were the stars for Mumbai. Johnson who bowled the final over with Pune needing 11 runs. But the Aussie managed to hold on and ensured Mumbai claimed the IPL title for the third time.
Earlier, RPS restricted Mumbai to 128 for 8 riding on commendable bowling effort. The two-time champions were completely off-colour as they played an astounding 54 dot balls (9 maiden overs) in 20 overs, a testimony to their plight. Save Krunal Pandya (47 off 38 balls), who watched helplessly from the other end, none of the MI batsmen showed judiciousness expected on the grand stage. It was because of Krunal's late hitting (three fours and two sixes) that MI managed to reach 128 after being reduced to 79 for 7.
Jaydev Unadkat's (2/19 in 4 overs) dream edition just got better as he dealt twin blows in the third over removing both Parthiv Patel (4) and Lendl Simmons (3) within a space of three deliveries. Patel mistimed a pull-shot that was taken by Shardul Thakur at mid-on while Simmons was foxed by a slower one which Unadkat smartly snapped inches off the surface.
At 8 for 2, Mumbai's most seasoned pair of skipper Rohit Sharma (24) and Ambati Rayudu (12) came together. However, they couldn't get going with Washington Sundar (0/13 in 4 overs) again proving to be exceptional during the Power play overs.
The 17-year-old bowled 15 dot balls in all - bowling two in Power plays and two during the middle overs. Mumbai were under pressure at 16 for 2 in 5 overs before Rohit picked up Lockie Ferguson for some special treatment, hitting four boundaries to get a move on.
But it wasn't long before Rayudu was found short failing to beat Steve Smith's direct throw. The MI skipper would be cursing himself as it was a half-tracker from Adam Zampa (2/32 in 4 overs) which he pulled to mid-wicket fence where Shardul Thakur showed fantastic balance while latching onto a well-judged catch.
Kieron Pollard (7) hit a first-ball six off Zampa but that encouraged the leggie to again flight one outside the off-stump. Pollard took the bait and was taken in deep by Manoj Tiwary. At 56 for 5, Mumbai Indians didn't have any chance of recovery. Pandya brothers have had a good tournament but on the day when it mattered most, Hardik played across the line to Dan Christian to be adjudged leg-before.
Shardul once again showed street smartness as he backed up at the striker's end after Karn Sharma's catch was missed by Christian. But his throw saw Shardul racing past Karn to dislodge the bails leaving MI shattered at 79 for 7.
Karn Sharma spins Mumbai Indians into final
In a largely lop-sided encounter, the Mumbai Indians romped home to a six-wicket win over Gautam Gambhir's Kolkata Knight Riders to set up title fight with Rising Pune Supergiant in Hyderabad.
Having messed up their first chance of entering the final with a loss at home to Pune in Qualifier 1, the Mumbai men got everything right on the night, the toss included, as they chased down the below-par total in 14.3 overs.
Although Mumbai were in control of the proceedings for the better part of the match, they did wobble a little and were 36-3 in six overs. But once Rohit and Krunal settled down, the match was well out of Kolkata's reach. Fittingly Krunal scored the winnings runs - a boundary off Umesh Yadav.
It was 12 nights ago that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed a carnage of Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling attack by Kolkata's opening duo of Narine and Lynn. The 37-ball-105 on that muggy night was still fresh in memory when the duo came out to bat. But Kolkata did not feast on runs. Instead they allowed the Mumbai bowlers to run riot on a pitch which offered no easy runs.
Put in to bat, Knight Riders were completely overshadowed by the meticulous Mumbai bowlers, who breezed through the batting line-up as Kolkata were bowled out for 107 in 18.5 overs. Coming out to bat less than 48 hours after their seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the rain-truncated contest at the same venue, Kolkata batsmen looked jaded against a well-rested and charged up Mumbai attack.
If leggie Karn Sharma (4-16) sent the batsmen on a leather hunt with his googlies and legspin, right-arm medium pacer Jasprit Bumrah (3-7) kept the batters guessing with his variation of good length balls and peppered it with yorkers and short balls. He even ensured the last over of power play was a maiden over with Robin Uthappa's wicket as the incentive.
Pune beat Mumbai
Rising Pune Supergiant defeated Mumbai Indians by 20 runs in the first qualifier and to become first finalists of the Indian Premier League. Young spinner Washington Sundar (3/16) and medium pacer Shardul Thakur (3/37) bowled exceptionally well to help Pune book a ticket to Hyderabad for the final. Earlier, Pune rode on fine half-centuries from Manoj Tiwary and Ajinkya Rahane to post 162/4 against Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium. But it was a whirlwind knock of 26-ball 40 from former RPS skipper MS Dhoni that brought the momentum into Pune's favour at the end of their innings. Dhoni along with Tiwary accumulated 41 runs from the final two overs but it was the 35-year-old finisher who did most of the damage for Pune. It was Dhoni's brilliance with the bat and later a brilliant captaincy from Steve Smith, which never allowed the pressure ease from Mumbai.
