IPL 2019 Final, MI vs CSK: Mumbai outshine Chennai by 1 run to claim 4th title

Both teams were tied at three IPL titles each heading into the finale. CSK have now lost to Mumbai for the third time in four finals

Lasith Malinga produced an incredible last over to defend nine runs as Mumbai Indians claimed undisputed supremacy in the IPL by securing their fourth title with a narrow one-run win over Chennai Super Kings in a pulsating final on Sunday. CSK needed nine runs off the last over but the experienced Lankan paceman Malinga kept his nerve to concede eight. He trapped Shardul Thakur leg before in the last ball after Watson (80 off 59) got run out two balls earlier.

That heart-stopping final over! https://t.co/p9Su69uhax

— Aakash Biswas (@aami_aakash) May 12, 2019

Before that Jasprit Bumrah kept Mumbai in the hunt with his tidy overs and two wickets, getting rid of Dwayne Bravo and Ambati Rayudu. The premier Indian pacer produced 13 dot balls in his testing overs. Young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar also played a key role in the middle overs as he too created pressure by bowling 13 dot balls. CSK had made a steady start by reaching 53 for one in the Powerplay but Mumbai bounced back in the middle overs, removing a struggling Suresh Raina (8 off 14) before getting rid of Rayudu to have CSK under the pump. The biggest moment came of the game in the 13th over when Dhoni was run-out trying to steal an extra single. An alert Ishan Kishan was spot on with his direct hit and he just about managed to get the better of Dhoni. It was an outstanding effort from Chahar (1/14) in the middle overs, putting CSK under tremendous pressure as they could collect only 16 runs between 11-15 overs with a loss of two wickets. Earlier, Deepak Chahar (3/26) and Imran Tahir (2/23) starred with the ball as CSK restricted Mumbai to 149/8 in 20 overs despite Kieron Pollard hitting an unbeaten cameo (41* off 25) down the order. Opting to bat, Mumbai openers Quinton de Kock (29 off 17) and Rohit Sharma (15 off 14) started cautiously but swiftly changed gears as they raced to 45 for no loss in 4.4 overs. Shardul finally drew the first blood as he packed back a dangerous looking de Kock in the very next ball. Three balls later, Deepak Chahar struck to send back Rohit. Suryakumar Yadav (15 off 17) and Ishan Kishan (23 off 26) then tried to repair the damage, adding 37 runs for the third wicket in the next six overs. But leg-spinner Imran Tahir struck to dismiss Suryakumar in the 12th over. Just when Mumbai touched the three-digit mark, Tahir struck again as he accounted for the wicket of Kishan in the 15th over. Pollard and Hardik Pandya then shared a 39-run partnership in quick time as the former's lusty blows propelled his side towards a modest total.