Titans snatch victory in extraordinary IPL finish

Mumbai, Indian Premier League

Mumbai Indians 155-8 (20 overs): Jacks 53 (35), Suryakumar 35 (24)

Gujarat Titans 147-7 (19 overs): Gill 43 (46), Buttler 30 (27), Bumrah 2-19, Boult 2-22

By three wickets (DLS method), the Gujarat Titans won.

Mumbai Indians were defeated by Gujarat Titans in a remarkable final-ball victory, which elevated Gujarat Titans to the top of the Indian Premier League.

Mumbai’s chase appeared to have ended when a second rain delay prevented Gujarat from scoring another 24 runs from 12 balls, the visitors’ lead-by using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

However, the rain stopped and Gujarat’s target was changed to 147, leaving them with only 15 to recover from the final six balls as the game resumed just before the deadline of 00:30 local time.

Gerald Coetzee hit a straight six to make it four after Rahul Tewatia had already hit four when the game was tied at four.

The Titans were then given another run by Bowler Deepak Chahar, but Coetzee was subsequently caught off the final pitch with the score at one.

Hardik Pandya, the Titans’ skipper, still had a chance to force a super over but missed with his throw from mid-on when a direct hit would have let Arshad out.

Using the DLS method, the Titans won by three runs.

Former England bowler Steven Finn described it as “remarkable” in a commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Coetzee hammers it for six and the tables are set right away. “One over, fifteen more.” With the exception of a super over, this game really had everything.

There were a lot of emotions, most of them grating, according to Titans captain Shubman Gill, because it once felt like one of those Test match rehearsals that didn’t go your way.

“Everything turned out well for us,” he said.

The visitors eventually lost 4-25 in four overs after going cruising at 107-2 in pursuit of 156 before Mumbai’s quicks had an electric fast bowling spell to start their chase.

Mumbai, who also would have won, took two wickets, Trent Boult one and Ashwani Kumar one, all of which were in vain.

Before the rain, former England captain Jos Buttler scored 30 points for the Titans with a 72-foot partner, Gill helped by an 11-ball over from Hardik, which included two no-balls and three separate wides.

In my opinion, the T20 is a crime, according to Hardik, “my no-balls, and the last no-ball.” You get a bite from it.

I’m not sure if it helped us, but the ball kept getting wetter. It was challenging.

Will Jacks, an England all-rounder, threw 53 balls in Mumbai’s 155-8 match, which was also a waste.

Suryakumar Yadav and Jacks, who combined for 73 on his first game for the franchise, lost 658 to Mumbai after Suryakumar was dismissed for 35.

The Titans are now level on points with Bengaluru’s Royal Challengers, but they are also at the top of the table because of their higher net run-rate.