Munaf Patel successfully managed to bowl a death over off which 12 were required with Dhoni in a murderous mood, to take his team to a glorious and highly improbable victory. He pulled off this miraculous feat thanks to a superhuman acrobatic leap by Pollard near the ropes at deep midwicket to intercept a Dhoni missile that was headed out of the stadium and into the Bay of Bengal. Yes, it was that sort of a match
Later, Pollard would recall: “It was all a haze, man. Normally, I would have watched it sail over me but I suddenly realized that it was off the bowling of the man who had dismissed…gasp…Sir Jadeja. Then, as though possessed by a supernatural force, I leapt like the Incredible Hulk to pluck it out of the air.”
Earlier in the day, knowledgeable Chennai fans knowing that this match featured not two but three legends of the game (not counting MSD) thronged the stands:
Shastri to Spectator at Chennai: “Excited to watch the match?” | Spectator: “Match? What match? I came to get a darshan of Sir Jadeja”
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
Indeed, even greats from the past assembled in spirit, braving the as always muggy conditions, just like SRK will at the Wankhede:
As the might of Mumbai Indians takes on Sir Ravindra Jadeja, Don Bradman, WC Grace and other greats watch from the skies. #EPICGAME
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
In the very first over of the first innings, SRT, determined not to jinx it, departed for a duck, telling Ponting not to screw it up now that he had laid a solid foundation. The ball appeared to be going down the leg side, at least to SRT, but the Mumbai Indians weren’t complaining.
Soon, Ricky, after scratching around for a few overs, also departed, secure in the knowledge that his IPL run aggregate this season was higher than Sachin’s.
Sachin and Ponting both gone early in the innings. MSD looking a bit worried,,
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
Rohit played a few elegant cover drives in his two minute cameo, and Dinesh Karthik ran out of his nine lives after playing some agricultural shots that made Sunny wince in the commentary box. It all seemed to be going according to plan: lose wickets early and thereby promote Kieron Pollard up the order. The burly Trinidadian picked off sixes as easily as he played out dots while Bhajji’s batting mirrored his career trajectory:
Harbhajan’s batting right now is a little like his career right now. Going nowhere #CSKvsMI — The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
Thanks to their enterprising partnership, Mumbai Indians managed to post a challenging score of 148 for 6. The duo were duly rewarded at the dugout during the break.
Pollard gets a hug from Nita Ambani, while Bhajji gets a hug from her son #CSKvsMI — The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
However, confidence in the CSK camp was high for all too obvious reasons.
CSK openers touch Sir Ravindra Jadeja’s feet and jog into the field brimming with confidence #CSKvsMI
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
Alas, CSK hadn’t reckoned with the extra yards of pace Munaf had added to his bowling:
Munaf Patel’s pace seems to have gone up ever since Anil Kumble joined as mentor to Mumbai Indians #CSKvsMI
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
Wickets fell at regular intervals. With Sir also departing (off Munaf’s bowling), CSK were in dire straits at 66 for 5 before MSD launched the counter-strike to nearly take his team to victory. Alas, fate willed otherwise. Later, wild celebrations ensued not just in the MI dressing room,
Munaf Patel, Kieron Pollard and Nita Ambani (together): “We did it for Sachin” #CSKvsMI — The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
but across the length and breadth of Australia as well:
First victory for an Australian led team in over 2 months #CSKvsMI
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
Seismic tremors epi-centered in Chennai also rocked the subcontinent.
Later, Dhoni would recall that he kept himself fooled until the last over that he was still playing against Australia. Ponting also got the ‘naya soch’ award for the innovation of losing early wickets in the first innings, and giving the final over to Munaf to set up an improbable MI win. Pollard was declared the man of the match but the real ceremony would take place the next morning:
Breaking: Sir Ravindra Jadeja to bestow knighthood upon Munaf Patel early tomorrow morning #CSKvsMI #IPL
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) April 6, 2013
(Tamilians might want to check out this post match FB wall as well on the Tamil UnReal Times)