How Dhoni nearly pulled off a final-over miracle in Bengaluru
How our ball-by-ball commentary captured an epic final over in Bengaluru
ESPNcricinfo staff
21-Apr-2019
MS Dhoni swats one towards midwicket • BCCI
Chennai Super Kings needed 26 off the last over, and at that point, our Forecaster only gave them less than 1% chance of winning. MS Dhoni took strike against Umesh Yadav, and what followed was a finish for the ages. Here's how things unfolded in Bengaluru.
19.1 Yadav to Dhoni, FOUR runs, short of length outside off, Dhoni manages to pull it towards deep square leg, Negi from deep midwicket cannot reach there in time
22 off 5. Stoinis goes back to deep square leg
19.2 Yadav to Dhoni, SIX runs, that has gone out of the stadium. Another short of length outside off and Dhoni just smashes it into the outer space over wide long-on
16 off 4.
19.3 Yadav to Dhoni, SIX runs, fuller around off and Dhoni has gone over long-off there. But wait, AB jumps in the air, you cannot time your jump better, gets his right hand to it but cannot latch on and it goes over the boundary line
19.4 Yadav to Dhoni, 2 runs, a low full toss on the stumps, Dhoni hits it towards deep square leg and sprints back for the second
8 off 2 now
19.5 Yadav to Dhoni, SIX runs, another six. A full toss on the stumps and Dhoni has pulled it between deep square leg and deep midwicket. Dhoni is pulling it off here. Nothing is beyond this man
2 needed off the last ball. One for the Super Over
19.6 Yadav to Dhoni, OUT, Dhoni looks to steer it behind point and misses but they go for the bye. Shardul sprints towards the other end, Parthiv Patel hits the stumps direct, Shardul dives but cannot make it. Coming to the ball, it was a length ball outside off, looked like an offcutter, and bounced once more before reaching Parthiv, who was waiting for it with his right glove off
SN Thakur run out (†Patel) 0 (8m 0b 0x4 0x6)
11:50 pm What a game we have had here. Dhoni almost pulled off a Houdini-like escape but missed out on the last ball when all the pressure was on the bowling side. Should have he taken those singles with Bravo? But that's not how MSD bats.