How Mumbai Indians pulled the rug from under Rising Pune Supergiant

In ten seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the 2017 final between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant was arguably the most thrilling. It wasn't the only last-ball finish - the inaugural 2008 final was decided in a similar manner too - but last night's thriller was all the more incredible because Mumbai managed to defend a modest 129 and won by one run. Till the end of the 16th over at least, RPS held the edge with 33 needed off 24 balls. Mumbai, you felt, had no business winning it from there but they utilised their death bowling strengths to the fullest to snatch victory. What makes the T20 format enjoyable and exasperating in equal measure is how the game can change on the basis of one or two overs. The final had its share of such turning points.

Krunal's late surge

When Hardik Pandya departed in the 14th over, Mumbai had their last specialist batsman at the crease - Hardik's brother Krunal. Krunal was batting on 15 off 17 balls and when Mumbai lost their seventh wicket at 79 soon after, passing 100 seemed optimistic. The difference between a score of 100 and Mumbai's eventual 129, was Krunal. The 18th over, bowled by the Australian fast bowler Dan Christian, opened the floodgates for Mumbai. Mitchell Johnson brought some cheer with a straight six - the first boundary in five overs - and Krunal in the same over managed a four. That over cost 13 and in the following over by Jaydev Unadkat, Krunal managed to smash another six. The two overs combined went for 23. Shardul Thakur, who had conceded only seven off his two overs, did not get another over in the innings and RPS captain Steve Smith gambled by bowling Christian for the 20th and final over of the innings. Krunal hit a six and a four off Christian before he was dismissed off the final ball. Krunal helped Mumbai take 37 off the last three overs, to what was a match-winning – by a whisker - score of 129.

Pollard's catch

Pune's chase of 130 was never brisk at any stage, given that they were chasing a score that looked around 30 runs below par. While Ajinkya Rahane was batting with Steve Smith, RPS looked well on course and there was no need to try anything risky. However in the 12th over, Rahane shaped to go over the top but picked the wrong ball to play that shot. It was a slower ball from Mitchell Johnson, Rahane ended up scooping towards long-on without conviction and Kieron Pollard - one of Mumbai's finest fielders - ran nearly 15 yards forward and timed his dive perfectly to take the catch. It was the sort of effort that would lift the spirits of any fielding team. RPS had lost a set batsman for 43, against the run of play, and from that moment, the innings hit the skids.

Tight bowling by Mumbai

Through the tournament, RPS had a reputation for strangling batting teams in the middle overs. Ironically, the team found itself on the other side of the fence in the final. The Mumbai bowlers beat RPS at their own game by conceding just 12 runs from overs 13 to 15, thereby building the pressure. The batsmen were not getting the width either side to play big shots, MS Dhoni couldn't stay long enough to pull off his magic and with it the burden on Smith slowly piled up. Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma gambled by bowling out his best death bowlers - Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah - before the 20th over, just to make the task harder for RPS before the final over. This gamble, though, worked, as it left RPS needing 11.

Smith's wrong placement

RPS's hopes of getting past the line in the final over still rested on Smith, so long as he could retain the strike. When Manoj Tiwary was out caught off the second ball, RPS needed seven off four balls. The field was spread out, mainly on the leg side as Smith tends to target that area a lot. However, Smith ended up smashing it flat and quick straight to Ambati Rayudu at deep extra cover on the off side. Rayudu didn't even get in good position to catch the ball but he managed to hang on. It was to Smith's misfortune that he placed his shot to the only fielder in the deep in that vicinity.