Indian Premier League 2019 ended with Mumbai Indians claiming their fourth title defeating Chennai Super Kings in a nail-biting encounter that went down to the last ball of the match.
Like this year's final, the Indian Premier League has been known for producing such contests, that go down to the wire. And this season too has been no stranger to them. In fact, this season has witnessed two super-over finishes.
Here’s a look at the matches this season that was decided only after the last ball of the match was bowled:
Match 10 - KKR vs DC
Match 10 of the 2019 IPL, played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals, was the first match of the season that went into the Super Over.
Kolkata Knight Riders set a total of 185 runs, which was chased down by Delhi Capitals in the exact amount of time.
The Super Over saw the Delhi team make 10 runs and they went onto restrict KKR to seven as they registered a win.
Match 14 - RR vs RCB
The 14th match of the Indian Premier League saw Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore take on each other.
RCB set up a target of 159 runs. Chasing 159, Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane started positively for Rajasthan. The duo added a fifty-run stand inside the batting powerplay with both batsmen going great guns.
With 34 required off 24 balls, Tripathi and Smith ensured that Royals get past the score comfortably. However, Rajasthan lost Smith in the final ball of the 19th over. With 5 needed of 6, RCB managed to take the game to the last over, but ended up losing the game with just one ball left to play.
Match 24 - KXIP vs MI
Helped by KL Rahul's maiden IPL century, Kings XI Punjab set up a target of 198 runs for Mumbai Indians.
However, an impressive knock of 83 runs off 31 balls from Kieron Pollard helped Mumbai to take the match to the last ball. Mumbai eventually won the match as Alzarri Joseph scored 2 runs off the finally delivery to take his side home.
Match 25 - RR vs CSK
The game between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals was a thriller in true sense.
After being put into bat, Rajasthan posted 151/7 in their 20 overs. A below par score may be but some controlled bowling by the home side saw the Rajasthan team take the game to the last over.
With 18 needed off 6 balls, Rahane entrusted Ben Stokes with the last over but the English all-rounder made a mess of it.
Chennai needed four runs to win off the last ball but a wide ball from Stokes brought the equation further down. Now, the defending champions needed only three of the last ball.
Stokes decided to bowl a slower delivery. And Mitchell Santner was quick to realise that as he hit the ball straight down the ground for a maximum.
Chennai Super Kings celebrated a six-run win.
Match 39-RCB vs CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore put up a modest 162 runs target against Chennai when the two sides met in match number 39 in Bengaluru.
After a top-order batting collapse, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni conjured a scintillating 48-ball unbeaten 84. But his side fell short by a run in yet another edge-of-the-seat contest.
CSK needed a near-impossible 26 off the last over. But with Dhoni still in the middle and Umesh Yadav’s dubious form with the ball in the death there was hope of a miracle.
Dhoni scored 24 off the first five deliveries and with two needed off last ball, everyone believed it was Chennai’s game to lose from thereon.
And as luck would have it, Dhoni failed to connect the final delivery and ended up taking no run. RCB took home the game, winning by just one run.
Match 51-MI vs SRH
In yet another nail-biting finish, eventual champions Mumbai Indians held their nerve to become the third team to qualify for the playoffs after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in a Super Over at the Wankhede Stadium.
Manish Pandey’s (71 unbeaten off 47) last-ball six denied Mumbai a thrilling win as his fighting knock along with Mohammed Nabi’s valuable (31 off 20) effort helped Hyderabad level the score in the stipulated 20 overs.
In the Super Over, Sunrisers only managed eight runs which were chased down by Mumbai Indians in only three balls.
Final - MI vs CSK
Lasith Malinga delivered the killer blow as Mumbai Indians defeated bitter rivals Chennai Super Kings by one run to lift a record fourth Indian Premier League title in a rip-roaring final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
With two runs needed off the final delivery, Malinga executed a slower yorker to perfection, trapping Shardul Thakur (2) right in front to send his teammates, including skipper Rohit Sharma, into delirium as Shane Watson, whose breathtaking 80 went in vain, sunk in his seat in the Chennai dugout.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)