Twitter Reactions: RPS tie down Mumbai Indians to 129 on the big night

Mumbai Indians have chased exceptionally well this year and it came as a big surprise when Rohit Sharma called right at the toss and elected to bat first. Perhaps, the pressure of chasing in a big final was playing in the minds of the Mumbai camp. The 2-time champion’s innings was off to the worst start possible as both openers Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons were back in the dugout in the third over.

Just when Rayudu and skipper Rohit started rebuilding the innings, the former took the arm of Smith on, only to be found short of his ground by almost 12 inches. Rohit too followed suit as he, in an attempt to push the scoring, hit one down to the deep midwicket fielder off Zampa’s leg spin. The leg-spinner struck again when he removed Pollard in the same over as the West Indian was holed out to a fielder, which was strategically placed by Dhoni to unsettle the big man. Manoj Tiwary, who was stationed at long-off, was asked to stand straighter, coming in the eye-line of Pollard who decided to take him on, only to hit it down his throat. At 65/6, Mumbai was way behind in the game

2 wickets in space of 5 balls – Hardik and Karn Sharma’s dismissals, pegged them back further as they looked down and out at 79/7 in the 15th over. Hopes of winning a possible third title slowly started fading away until Krunal Pandya guided them towards some respectability.

Coming in to bat at 5, Krunal weathered the storm by trying to utilise the quota of 20 overs by taking the innings deep alongside Mitchell Johnson, who is no mug with the bat. Both added 50 runs for the 8th wicket in 35 balls to give some hope to Mumbai Indians as they now have something to ball at.

RPS bowlers were brilliant on the night of the finals. Washington Sundar and Jaydev Unadkat, who is having an outstanding season this year, bowled telling spells with the new ball to keep the Mumbai batsmen under check. Daniel Christian and Adam Zampa chipped away at the wickets during the middle overs though they went for 8 runs an over.

A chase of 130 should be a straightforward one unless Mumbai bowlers pick a couple of wickets with the new ball.

Let us have a look at the Twitter Reactions of the RPS bowling innings:

This is going to be very interesting I feel, crucial period with Rahul Tripathi at the top.#IPLfinal

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) May 21, 2017

All but over I think for Mumbai.

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) May 21, 2017

To win finals you need to not play with fear. I feel @mipaltan have batted with fear tonight. They have been extremely tentative from ball 1

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) May 21, 2017

Game, Set and Match…. @RPSupergiants brilliant!

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) May 21, 2017

Pretty sure Goenka's captain can't pull this off. #IPLfinal pic.twitter.com/n4g2r2zMqL

— sagaRPS (@sagarcasm) May 21, 2017

Fielding is often the difference in big matches.RPS already have 2 huge fielding moments.Unadkat's return catch & Smith's runout#IPLfinal

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 21, 2017

This final looks like a match between Pune and scars inflicted by Pune.#IPLfinal

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) May 21, 2017

Mumbai Indians trying to score like… #IPLfinal #IPL pic.twitter.com/jh7qAXNknm

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) May 21, 2017

No mystery ball, no doosra, no carrom ball, just pure off spin brilliance from Washington Sundar with the new ball.???.#IPLfinal

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 21, 2017

Mumbai Indians players playing like..they have been told they would get Sooryavansham DVD as IPL cup if they win this #IPLfinal #RPSvMI

— Paresh Rawal (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) May 21, 2017

Mumbai Indians performing so badly that their dance on 'Jio Dan Dana Dan' now looks good. #IPLfinal #RPSvMI

— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) May 21, 2017

Soaking up the atmosphere at this years #IPLfinal @KP24 and I agree that @mipaltan needed a little more batting intent tonight pic.twitter.com/VlWS0sSGkY

— Matthew Hayden AM (@HaydosTweets) May 21, 2017