IPL 10, Final, MI v RPS: CT Player of the Match - Mitchell Johnson

47 days, 59 matches, and it came down to two cities situated 149kms apart battling it out in the final game of the landmark 10th edition of the IPL. Maharashtrians would have been in splits as to which of their teams they’d support, their state capital or the Queen of Deccan. While the Mumbai Indians and the Rising Pune Supergiant took centre stage at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, a not-so-young lad from far-off Queensland shone for his side.

This fierce left-arm pacer suddenly rose to prominence in the climactic stage of the tournament in the absence of Mitchell McClenaghan. Although he didn’t get too many games in this season, he rose to the occasion when the team needed it most – in the 20th over of the final in the world’s biggest T20 tournament.

Johnson’s experience into play

They say well begun is half done. However, the Mumbai Indians wouldn’t have been the ones saying this at the halfway mark. A mere 130 runs to defend against a sturdy Supergiant side was never going to be easy. But Mitchell Johnson’s muzzling spell of 2-36 in his quota of four overs on the decisive night was indeed the finish the Mumbai Indians needed. He put on a live demonstration for youngsters on three aspects of bowling – sticking to the basics, sticking to the plans and sticking to the field placements.

Skipper Rohit Sharma threw the ball to one of his most trusted bowlers, and Johnson kept things fairly quiet in his first over. The left-arm pacer gave away just 4 off the 2nd over in the chase, although an added 4 leg byes didn’t harm his personal figures. He followed it up with an 8-run over, but his figures hadn’t taken a hit yet. Johnson had given away just 12 off 2 overs.

Malinga’s assistance

A special mention for Slinga Malinga, the undisputed master of the yorker, who bowled 4 tight overs to subdue the RPS batsmen. Never is it easy for a bowler reaching the sunset of his career to bring the best out of him, especially when things haven’t gone entirely his way during the season. Malinga did exceptionally well to give away just 21 off his 4. MI had kept things under control, and Malinga will have his share of the credit in the after-party.

The tables turn

The tide turned in favour of the Mumbai Indians in the 12^th over. Despite losing Tripathi, Pune were pretty much cruising along, with the required run rate never spilling beyond 7. However, a set Ajinkya Rahane perished just as he was looking good to tee off. Although a small man, Rahane’s wicket is always of big value. The slower ball did the trick for the paceman Johnson, as Rahane tried to heave it over long on. Seems you cannot keep Kieron Pollard out of the game, and he showed exactly why. The big man ran good 15 yards to snatch it just as it was going to hit the ground. Mumbai had knocked off Pune’s openers. Rahane couldn’t stick around on the big night.

A thrilling finish

Speaking of things sticking around, Mitchell Johnson would have been thankful that the ball stuck to his fingers as he loaded up for the final over of the IPL. Mitch and Mumbai had 11 runs to play with, while Pune required 13 to snatch a victory. His very first ball went for a four through a vacant deep square leg, exactly where Johnson wanted a fielder to be placed. The pendulum had suddenly swung RPS’ way. Nevertheless, as the best of tales always have a twist at the end, so did this one. Johnson bowled a similar delivery to Manoj Tiwary, but this time the batsman could only find a steady Kieron Pollard at long on. With 9 needed off the last 4, the good news for the Rising Pune Supergiant was that captain Steve Smith was back on strike.

Disaster followed, hopes shattered in the RPS camp, as Smith smashed one straight to Ambati Rayudu, the lone fielder at sweeper cover. Perhaps someone might run a check on Rayudu’s fingers for signs of a magnet, just as the Netherlands authorities did with Dhyan Chand by unkindly breaking his hockey stick. That someone’s inspection though would be in vain, as it was entirely reflexes which helped Rayudu latch on to a special catch. Smith’s was a full-bladed shot that, on any other day, would have crashed into the first row in the stands. However, Rayudu snapped it in spite of being in some discomfort. He had his hands awkwardly positioned, but the swerving ball stuck right into them. Within a jiffy, the Mumbai bench ran into the field in elation. A double strike in a nail-biting final over and the Mumbai Indians were all over their neighbours.

It all came down to 4 off the last ball, but even the hefty Dan Christian couldn’t dispatch Johnson to the fence to achieve glory. Christian swatted across the line, but since he hadn’t middled it, the ball bounced to several fielders swarming in. RPS had completed 2 runs but were in no position to get a 3rd. The throw to the keeper was near perfect, as Parthiv whipped off the bails to hand Mumbai its third IPL crown. Mitchell Johnson had taken his side home.

Johnson the hero

He might not be playing international cricket anymore, but that didn’t stop the feisty Mitch Johnson to be the hero for his side on the night of the final. Johnson signed off with 3 wickets, giving away just 26. RPS had done phenomenally well to restrict the Mumbai Indians to just 129, but the two-time champions never considered themselves out of contention. Some exceptional bowling and fine efforts in the field meant the Mumbai Indians scampered to a record third IPL title. The man who will be remembered in the all-important final for his nerves of steel though is Mitchell Johnson. As the extravagant festival of Indian cricket comes to an end, the Mumbai Indians will be a delighted bunch. Mitchell Johnson, in particular, will go back with the CT Player of the Match award along with the IPL trophy, in a final which will be etched in an exclusive corner of his mind.