With two runs needed off the final ball, Malinga executed a slower yorker to perfection, trapping Shardul Thakur (2) right in front to send his teammates including skipper Rohit into delirium as Shane Watson, whose breathtaking 80 went in vain, sunk in his seat in the Chennai dugout.
After a scintillating win, elated Mumbai owners – Nita and Akash Ambani – were seen celebrating the eve with their team who went through a rough phase last year.
During the team cheer in the dressing room after the game on Sunday night, Nita Ambani thanked son Akash for gifting her a win in the final of the IPL. While the team is coached by an array of stars with Mahela Jayawardene as head coach, Akash is known to ensure that the team management and players get the best possible facilities after he was handed over the managerial reins two years back by his mother.
In the last five overs, Chennai needed 62 off 30. Watson then hit Malinga for a hattrick of fours to trim the equation to 42 off 24 balls.
There was no stopping the veteran Australian, who scored a hundred to help Chennai win the IPL last time, as he clobbered Krunal Pandya for three back-to-back sixes in the 18th over which cost Mumbai 20 runs. But it wasn't to be Chennai's night this time around.