IPL: 5 best last over finishes from IPL 2008

#1 Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings (IPL 2008 final)

Yusuf Pathan was awarded Man of the Match in the final for his superb knock of 56 runs in just 39 balls.

The final of IPL 2008, took place on 1st June 2008 between two best teams of the tournament Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at DY Patil Stadium in Navy Mumbai.

The contest was worthy of a final, as Chennai Super Kings put into bat by Shane Warne, scored 163/5 in their 20 overs on the back of 43 runs in 30 balls by Suresh Raina and a quickfire unbeaten 29 runs off 17 balls by skipper MS Dhoni. For Rajasthan Royals, Yusuf Pathan was the most successful bowler as he picked up 3 wickets for just 22 runs in his 4 overs.

Chasing the target of 164 runs, Rajasthan Royals were reduced to 42/3 in 6.4 overs when big hitter Yusuf Pathan came into bat. Yusuf Pathan then went on to play a game-changing innings of 56 runs in just 39 balls, laded with 3 fours and 4 huge sixes. Yusuf was also involved in a partnership of 65 runs for the 4th wicket with Shane Watson and 32 runs for the 5th wicket with Mohammad Kaif.

The dismissal of Yusuf Pathan, courtesy of a brilliant direct hit from Suresh Raina in the 18th over with Rajasthan Royals still needing 21 runs in 14 balls to win the IPL Trophy, tilted the match completely in the favor of Chennai Super Kings. And at the end of 19th overs, Rajasthan Royals were 156/7 with 8 runs needed off the final over to be bowled by Lakshmipathy Balaji and had their skipper Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir at the crease.

Balaji gave away just 2 runs of his first 3 balls, but a costly wide of the 4th ball which also produced a bye tilted the balance in the favor of Rajasthan Royals. With three needed off 2 balls, Tanvir hit two runs off the penultimate ball, before settling the victory in the final ball, thereby crowning Rajasthan Royals as the winners of IPL 2008.

Brief Scores:

CSK – 163/5 (20) – Suresh Raina 43(30), Parthiv Patel 38(33), Yusuf Pathan 3/22(4)

RR – 217/7 (19.5) – Yusuf Pathan 56(39), Shane Watson 28(19), Muttiah Muralitharan 2/39(4)

Man of the Match – Yusuf Pathan