The Patil stadium at Navi Mumbai packed to capacity for the grand finale of IPL DLF T 20 league witnessed breathtaking acrobtics and captivating dance numbers as part of fanfare for more than an hour before the battle of Titans started between Chenni Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Partihv Patel and Vidyut opened for CSK after the Royals elected to field. The first run of the innings came when umpire Billy in his inimitable style gestured a wide off the second ball of the innings. Soon Shivmani’s drumbeats reverberated as Patel took a boundary of the fifth ball of the first over. The partnership had yielded 35 runs in first five overs despite the slow outfield.
After the departure of Vidyut at 39, Patel and Raina cruised smoothly till the end of 9th over when Kamran lapped up a difficult chance behind the wicket off Pathan leaving CSK at 60/2. Fall of Morkel at the score of 96 produced some anxious moments for the bowling side as Kaif collided with keeper Akmal who had already got his hands to the ball. The game remined suspended for a few minutes as two players stumbled to their feet . While Shane Warne deployed an assorted bowling package rotating the bowlers quickly , it was Yusuf Pathan who captured the opening three wickets.
Fireworks started with arrival of MS Dhoni the CSK captain as he slammed Warne over the boundary. At the end of 15th over CSK had notched up117/3. Raina departed at 128/4 when his personal score was just 7 short of 50. At the end of 18th over CSK still had a humble score of 139/4. Kapugedara struggled to give company to his captain but departed in the last over leaving the task to Badri Nath. Stands reverberated as the last over ended at 163/5, Dhoni remaining not out at 29. Bowling honours were shared between Sohail Tanvir, Shane Watson and Pathan. It was now over to Warne’s men.
Raj Royals opened with goan youngster Asnodkar and N Patel with modest 2 runs coming in the opening over. When at the end of third over Gony knocked out the stumps of Patel it was the first loss for the Royals team . Asnodkar added 28 swift runs of 20 balls (4 fours) .His departutre at the score of 41 was quickly followed by run out of Kamran by Ntini.
Thereafter a 61 run partnership between Watson and Yusuf carried the Royals past 100 till Murlitharan made shortwork of Watson knocking out the off stump leaving Rajasthan at 107/4. Murlidharan’s charm appeared to have deserted him for a while as Pathan anf Kaif lofted him over the boundary successively pushing the score to 139 before Dhoni took an easy catch to pack off the latter at 148/5. Newcomer Jadeja was out of next over and the game appeared to be heading towards a nail biting finish.CSK had by now slackened it’s fielding to a limit that could cost it the match.
Next over and a direct throw at bowler’s end by Raina sealed the fate of Pathan. Rajasthan needed just 18 runs of the last two overs.Balaji's last over got in progress .Victory was yet so near and yet so far both for Dhoni and Warne.3 balls left and only a sixer needed for victory.....With one ball to spare the scores were level at 163. Rajasthan batsman Sohail made the winning shot of the last ball and the stadium rose to thundering ovation as fireworks lit the night sky. The beleagured Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje at last had something to cheer about.
