Miracle Mumbai reach IPL finals

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Mumbai Indians have qualified for the Indian Premier League playoffs with Aditya Tare hitting a six off a wide ball down leg-side from James Faulkner to knock Rajasthan Royals out of the tournament.

Entering the game – the last before the finals – Rajasthan were favoured to make the final four as they not only were a game ahead of Mumbai but had a superior net run rate.

And after the Royals made 4-189 the equation facing Mumbai was that they apparently had to reach the winning target of 190 from 87 balls, or at the 14.3 over mark.

The odds seemed stacked against Mumbai.

Faulkner was thrown the ball for the pivotal 15th over, with Mumbai needing nine runs from three balls.

The first ball was a tight line that restricted New Zealander Corey Anderson to just a single, taking his score to 95 from just 44 balls.

The next, however, was a leg-side full toss that was launched over the square leg fence by Ambati Rayudu. Now Mumbai needed just two from the third delivery to qualify for the playoffs at Rajasthan's expense.

Rayudu hit the ball into the covers, scampered a single to tie the scores but a Rajasthan overthrow saw the pair attempt a match-winning single. However Rayudu was run-out at the striker's end, leaving the scores tied at the 14.3 over cut-off mark.

Confusion reigned as the players on the ground didn’t know where that left their respective teams’ finals hopes, with both teams seeking clarification from the onfield umpires.

After a chaotic few minutes, players, fans and commentators settled on the scenario that a boundary must be hit off the final ball. Faulkner charged in, his delivery another leg-side full toss which Aditya Tare sent sailing into the delerious crowd.

He then ran around Wankhede Stadium, had a word for Rajasthan skipper Shane Watson, and pulled his shirt over his face in a celebration more in keeping with the forthcoming football World Cup in Brazil.

Mumbai’s unbelievable win now sees them join Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in the playoffs (table below courtesy of IPLT20.com).

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New Zealander Anderson was the hero for the Indians, making 95no off 44 balls. He whacked nine fours and six sixes.

Rayudu made 30 off 10 before his calamitous run-out and the back-in-form Mike Hussey made 22 off 11 deliveries.

Faulkner was taken for 54 runs from his wicketless 3.4 overs while Rajasthan skipper Shane Watson went for 33 from his two overs.

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Watson didn’t fare much better with the bat either, having earlier made just eight from 18 balls opening the batting.

The Royals still built a big total though, with rising star Sanju Samson making 74 from 47 balls and Karun Nair making 50.

Some entertaining hitting from Aussies Brad Hodge (29 off 16) and Faulkner (23 off 12) at the end of the innings proved to be for nothing, with Mumbai’s dramatic run chase ending the IPL tournament for Rajasthan.

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