IPL 6: MI vs CSK: Quick Flicks of the day

Finally, it ended. With the Mumbai Indians lifting the trophy for the first time, IPL -6 finally drew the curtains on a tournament that saw some quality cricket and loads of drama. Though the final didn’t live up to its billing, there were a few moments that stood out -

Swing and seam – Pacers paradise

It’s often been termed a spinning beauty but the pitch at the Eden Gardens decided to swing the other way tonight. Double paced, spongy bounce and moisture – the track had everything to help the seamers from both sides. If the Chennai seamers bowled great lines to restrict the Mumbai Indians batsmen, the Mumbai pacers retaliated with their devastating best. If Mohit Sharma and Albie Morkel dried up the runs, Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Johnson destroyed the Chennai top order. The rains in Kolkata left enough moisture in the track and the pacers reaped the benefits of keeping the ball up.

Sharma impressed yet again with his line and length and moved the ball enough to create doubts in the batsmen’s mind. Morkel, too, bowled a disciplined line and kept the runs in check. The Mumbai pacers, however, activated the demolition mode. Malinga, first, delivered the perfect yorker to knock Mike Hussey over and then tickled Suresh Raina ribs to send him back to the dugout. Mitchell Johnson kept sliding it across the right-handers and got them fishing at those wide ones.

Dhoni and Sharma – Cool vs Calm

It was a game between Captain Cool and Captain Calm. Rohit Sharma has impressed (and surprised) most cricket critics with his intelligent captaincy and his calm demeanour, but today he showed his shrewd cricket brain as well. If Dhoni brought back his seven-two field back in the finals, Rohit Sharma handed the new ball to Lasith Malinga. Throughout the tournament, Malinga has been preferred as first change, but tonight the Mumbai Captain decided to toss him the new ball. The move paid rich dividends and the Sri Lankan broke the top order of the Super Kings. However, the best move came from MS Dhoni when he stationed a mid off and a long off to Pollard in the first innings. He placed Raina almost behind the bowler, trying to put Pollard off. Though the Big Trinidadian went on to hit his way to a fifty, Dhoni certainly deserved the “Nayi Soch” award for that move!

The KP effect – Top and bottom of the table

One KP pulled out due to injury before the tournament and left his team grasping for straws, while the other took his team past the final hurdle. If Kevin Pietersen’s absence stung the Daredevils, Keiron Pollard matured as an all-rounder in IPL -6. Pollard has often been tagged as an inconsistent batsman but in this IPL, he removed that stain from his name forever. With three fifties to his credit, Pollard contributed immensely with the bat for Mumbai down at number 5/6. Today, he came in to bat with 999 IPL runs against his name and with his side in a lot of strife. On a pitch where the batsmen struggled to time the ball, the big man opened his account with a fabulous straight drive off his countryman Dwayne Bravo. If that was a sign of intent, the West Indian single handedly took the Mumbai innings past a respectable score.

Fielding – the Jumping Jhapak acts!

Mumbai has Jonty Rhodes and Ricky Ponting in the dug out so it’s obvious that they will field well, but the Chennai Super Kings too put in a superb effort on the field. If Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard were sparkling for the Mumbai team, Raina, Mohit Sharma and Morkel stepped up the Chennai show. They looked focussed and sharp and when Ashwin makes diving saves at third man, you know how badly a team wants to win.

Bravo – brilliance with the ball

Dwayne Bravo has been sensational with the ball in this tournament. Though he is more of a batsman who bowls, IPL 6 saw him at the heights of bowling prowess. He came into the match with 28 wickets to his name and ended with 32 with a fantastic four wicket haul. Although he went for a few, thanks to his fellow West Indian, he became the first man to grab 30 wickets in the IPL and the 3rd bowler to get past the 30 wicket mark in a T20 tournament after Alphonso Thomas (33) and Danny Briggs (31).

Last IPL – going out on a high!

The hearts of all Indian cricket fans skipped a beat when Sachin Tendulkar said that this is his last IPL in the post match interview. Even when Sunil Gavaskar pushed him to play one more game at the Wankhede, the God of cricket smiled and declined, and said he wanted to go out on a high and that this was the perfect moment! The haters would blame him for grabbing the limelight again but the hearts of the devotees got just that bit heavier!

A moustache, a flying kiss and a twitch – the not-so-important moments!

If Sir Jadeja turned up with a terrible moustache, Chris Morris displayed fantastic spirit as he winked and blew a flying kiss to Kieron Pollard. Pollard mistimed the ball and Morris turned back to throw back at the stumps. Pollard came up with a smile and Morris blew a flying kiss to the big West Indian. Banter at its best and it made for great television.

However, the moment that stuck was that of Dhoni looking unusually uneasy in the dug out. He came to bat as low as number 7 and looked in a lot of discomfort in the dug out. He kept twitching, massaging his neck and whenever the camera focussed on him, came up with a sheepish smile. Even while batting, the characteristic swagger was missing and even though he stayed unbeaten till the end, he wasn’t in his elements. With the Chennai franchise making the news for the wrong reasons, this IPL finally got on to the nerves of the “Coolest” one!