IPL: 5 best last over finishes from IPL 2009

#2 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians (14 May 2009)

Abhishek Nayar's quickfire 35 runs of 18 balls went in vain.

Just like in IPL 2008, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians were once again involved in yet another low scoring thriller on 14 May 2009 at Kingsmead in Durban.

Batting first, after winning the toss Rajasthan Royals posted a 145/7 in their 20 overs, on the back of half-century by Rob Quiney and Ravindra Jadeja's 42 runs of 34 balls. For Mumbai Indians, Sanath Jayasuriya was the most successful bowler as he picked up 2 wickets in his only over.

Chasing a modest total of 146, the Mumbai Indians team management suffered a brain fade as they opened the innings with Dwayne Bravo and wicketkeeper Yogesh Takawale instead of regular openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar. The change in the batting order did not work for Mumbai Indians, as both the make-shift openers were dismissed cheaply and Mumbai Indians were reduced to 23/3 in 5.3 overs when Tendulkar came into bat at No. 5.

The master blaster held the Mumbai innings at one end, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne then tilted the match completely in favor of Rajasthan Royals by picking up the big wicket Tendulkar for 40 runs to leave Mumbai Indians tottering at 103/6 in 15.3 overs, with Mumbai still needing 43 runs of 27 balls to win the match on a difficult pitch.

But, Abhishek Nayar did not give up and launched a stunning counter-attack on Rajasthan's bowlers by scoring a quickfire 35 runs of just 18 balls and brought Mumbai Indians back in the match. Abhishek Nayar despite getting run out in the penultimate over had done his job as Mumbai Indians now needed mere 4 runs from the final over to win the match with 3 wickets in hand and an experienced campaigner Harbhajan Singh still at the crease.

Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne gave fast bowler Munaf Patel, the responsibility to defend 4 runs of the final over, with Mumbai Indians firm favorites to win the match.

The final over bowled by Munaf brought another twist in the match, as Mumbai Indians suffered yet another brain fade and lost their final 3 wickets of the starting 5 balls in the form of run outs, thereby allowing Rajasthan Royals to escape with a 2 run win.

Brief Scores:

RR – 145/7 (20) – Rob Quiney 51(40), Ravindra Jadeja 42(34), Sanath Jayasuriya 2/3(1)

MI – 143 (19.5) – Sachin Tendulkar 40(30), Abhishek Nayar 35(18), Shane Warne 3/24(4)

Man of the Match – Shane Warne