IPL History: Three memorable nail-biting encounters between MI and CSK

#2 Dwayne Smith’s 3-ball stunner

Dwayne Smith's 3-ball stunner sealed the game for MI (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

MI hosted the defending champions CSK for the 49th match of IPL 2012. Harbhajan Singh, the skipper of Mumbai Indians, won the toss and opted to field first. Contributions from Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, and Dwayne Bravo ensured that CSK posted a competitive target of 174 for MI.

In reply, MI lost James Franklin in the third over of the run chase with only eight runs on the scoreboard. However, a 126-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma for the second wicket ensured that MI was on-target in the run chase. However, quick wickets in the end-overs twisted the match in favor of CSK.

With 16 runs required from the last six balls, Ben Hilfenhaus conceded two runs and dismissed Lasith Malinga in the first three balls. The equation was reduced to 14 from the final three deliveries with the odds heavily stacked against MI. Dwayne Smith, who was bought as a replacement player for injured Mitchell Johnson was on strike in the fourth ball of that over.

As a shell shock to the CSK team and fans, Smith did the unthinkable by smoking 14 runs in the last three balls with one six and two fours. In the process, Smith essayed one of the finest last-over heists in the history of IPL with his 24 runs from nine balls.