- Aaron Finch cuts on the way to his fifty during the IPL match between Gujarat Lions and hosts Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Saturday.
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Gujarat Lions looked comfortable chasing 144, but it was a close finish as Mumbai Indians pegged them back with wickets and tight bowling.
So, we finally have an IPL match that went down to the wire thanks to
tenacity from both sides. While Raina and Finch were going great guns,
Mumbai Indians looked totally out of it with just 143 to defend. But
everything seemed to happen in the final five overs of both innings.
McClenaghan (4 for 21) revved up his slower short deliveries, and bowled
an impeccable 19th over, giving just 2 runs away for 2 wickets.
But in the end, Finch was too formidable a force for the hosts. Coming
off two brilliant performances, which won his IPL side their first two —
and now, first three — matches, he has bagged his third-straight
Man-of-the-Match performance. He attacked up front. Calmed down in the
middle, deciding to anchor the chase. Then towards the end, gave a scare
with leg cramps. And got the side over the line off the very last ball.
What a cracker of a game.
Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma says they let themselves down
with the bat, though he praised his bowlers. Yes, Rohit, it DOES get
hard when you lose too many wickets in the early overs.
Gujarat Lions captain Suresh Raina says "Low-scoring matches are
always difficult to chase. We were calm under pressure. Credit goes to
Finchy and Dhawal (Kulkarni)."
Third-time Man of the Match Aaron Finch assures us all he is
alright, and just had a bit of cramps to heighten the moral value of his
innings. That last bit was a joke, but true. Gives credit to Kulkarni
for taking the pressure off him by getting the crucial boundary in the
last over.
MI 143/8 (20.0 Ovs)
GL 147/7 (20.0 Ovs)
Gujarat Lions won by 3 wkts
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