The pendulum kept swinging from one way to the another and a special performance from either teams was required to close out the game. And, it was Hardik Pandya who rose to the occasion.
Pandya (eight-ball 21) delivered a stunning performance in the penultimate over, hitting three successive sixes off Pawan Negi’s on first three balls to close out the game for the Mumbai Indians.
The Mumbai Indians were required to make 30 runs in final 12 balls, but Pandya’s blitz helped the visitors to end the game with four balls to spare to stun the Chennai Super Kings.
Ambati Rayudu, meanwhile, also played well and finished with an unbeaten 19-ball 34. The match was within the Super Kings clutches, but Negi’s 19th over turned the game upside down.
“I was pushed to take the decision (to bring Negi in the 19th) because our fast bowlers didn’t bowl well,” MS Dhoni said. “Negi has bowled well, he was under pressure, no problems that it didn’t come through.”
“It was more a tactical error,” he added. “You will drop a few catches, it’s bound to happen. But some fielders were not really in the field, it’s important to give your 100%.”
Earlier, Negi fore with the bat and stitched a crucial 54-run partnership with Dhoni as the Chennai Super Kings posted 158 on the board.
