Rohit hits last ball six to give Mumbai Indians a thrilling win against Chargers

Rohit Sharma snatched a win for Mumbai Indians against Deccan Chargers with a six off Daniel Christian’s last ball in a low scoring thriller at Vizhag on Monday. It was heartbreak for the home side and especially for Dale Steyn, whose fiery 3-12 spell, had given his side a huge chance to win, writes The Times Of India.

Deccan Chargers did well to protect a total of 138 for nine, with its bowlers pushing the match to the wire. 18 were needed off the last over bowled by Daniel Christian and Rohit struck two huge sixes to ensure victory for Mumbai Indians.

“In the end, however, it was Rohit who stole the thunder. With Mumbai needing 18 off the last over, James Franklin stuck Daniel Christian’s first ball for a four and then took a two and stole a bye off the third ball. With 11 needed off the last three balls, Rohit swung his bat wildly and connected a full toss outside the offstump. The ball sailed over point for a six. Rohit then ran two off the next ball, barely surviving a run-out attempt. He then hammered the last ball over the long on fence to bring up victory. Rohit’s unbeaten 73 came off 50 balls with four fours and six sixes,” adds the national daily.

Electing to bat, Chargers struggled, writes The Hindu, adding Munaf Patel got rid of Parthiv Patel and Bharat Chipli while Malinga cut short the flight of Dhawan, who was in good touch till Pollard came up with an excellent catch holding on to a leading edge.

“Before this extraordinary effort from Pollard, Dhawan had slammed a six off Munaf over mid-wicket, sent Malinga into the stands and clobbered Pragyan Ojha for two sixes and a four. The Chargers needed their skipper Kumar Sangakkara to come good and he too seemed to get into the mood flicking Pollard to the fine-leg fence. However, his end came amidst controversy with the umpires initially refusing to refer the decision to the third umpire,” says The Hindu report.

“In the 13th over of the Chargers' innings, Munaf bowled Sangakkara but the umpires J.D. Colete and Anil Choudhury believing that the ball had deflected off the 'keeper's pad declared him not out. And they refused to consult the third umpire when Munaf and Harbhajan insisted. Finally the third umpire Dharmasena declared that Sangakkara was bowled. Christian kept the score moving with some big hits and Cameron White pushed the score along in the late overs with an unbeaten 30,” adds the report.