Internet Desk: It required a brilliance from Aaron Finch to clinch a last ball thriller against defending champions Mumbai Indians as the Gujarat Lions romped home to its third straight win in IPL 9. The Australian opener played through pain to notch up his third half century in as many matches to help Gujarat Lions get past the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede stadium on Saturday.
Finch scored 67 runs of 54 balls that included 7 fours and a six. Chasing a target of 144 runs the Lions reached the target in the last ball of the match.
Lions skipper Suresh Raina decided to put Mumbai Indians to bat first. And the decision to bat second proved right with the home team batsmen failing, collectively.
Except Parthiv Patel, who made a stroke full 34 off 29 balls, none of the Mumbai batsmen got going. And had not been for a 42-run 8th wicket stand between Krunal Pandya and Tim Southee, the total would have been much lower. Mumbai managed to score 143/8 in their stipulated 20 overs.
Chasing the target, the Lions made a dreadful start with Brendon McCullum losing his wicket early. But Finch held the innings together with his unbeaten 67 off 54 balls. Skipper Raina made useful contribution with 27 off 22 balls.
A middle over slump for the visitors heavily tilted the match in favour of the home team.But Dhawal Kulkarni held his nerve well to give Finch the partnership to complete the chase.
Mitchell McClenaghan brought Mumbai Indians back into the match picking two wickets in the penultimate over. Needing 11 runs from the last over, Finch hit the winning runs – a four over mid-wicket as MI fielders closed into stop a single, as the Lions required I run off the last ball.
Finch became the first player to win three back-to-back man-of-the-matches in IPL.
For the record, Hardik and Krunal Pandya became first brothers to play for the same franchise in an IPL match.