Harbhajan Singh pocketed 4/32, including three in one over as Mumbai won
the World T20 League for the second time, crushing Rajasthan by 33 runs
in an emotionally-charged final.
Sachin Tendulkar (15) and Rahul Dravid (1) did not do anything dramatic with the bat but the two legends, playing their last T20 game, drew loud cheers from the thousands gathered at the Feroz Shah Kotla. It was however, Tendulkar who walked out the happier man, having seen his team through to twin championships this year.
Rajasthan were set a staggering 203 to win and were at one point, even favourites to chase down the mammoth total but Harbhajan, who was captain when Mumbai won the World T20 League for the first time in 2011, turned up with his best bowling performance in this edition and completely destroyed Rajasthan's momentum.
At the end of the day, it had finally come down to Dravid, who walked in at number eight with Rajasthan on 159/6, needing 44 off three overs. They were cruising along at one stage, when after Kusala Perera was run out in the first over, the reliable firm of Ajinkya Rahane (65) and Sanju Samson (60) added 109 for the second wicket before the latter fell to Pragyan Ojha in the 12th over. Shane Watson, who joined Rahane in the middle was packed off for eight by Harbhajan in the 15th over. However, it was Harbhajan's last over and the 17th of the innings, that completely dashed all Rajasthan hopes. The feisty off-spinner first took out the set Rahane off the first ball, bowled Stuart Binny off the fourth and had the dangerous Kevon Cooper stumped off the last ball.
All eyes were now on Dravid, who had pushed himself low down the order from his usual opening position but with the required rate soaring to unmanageable proportions, the Rajasthan skipper made room to a yorker by Nathan Coulter-Nile and had his leg-stump disturbed. From 163/7 in the 18th over, Rajasthan were headed only one way but Kieron Pollard hastened their end, picking up three wickets in the penultimate over, as Mumbai collapsed to 169 all out.
There was a collective roar in the ground when Dravid won the toss and asked Mumbai to bat. The capacity crowd was eager to watch Tedulkar bat one last time in T20 cricket and though he was beaten early by Shane Watson and appeared lucky to survive a loud lbw appeal, the veteran slammed the same bowler for two consecutive boundaries three overs later. However, Watson had the last laugh when he sent Tendulkar's off stump cartwheeling to end his last innings in the shortest format of the game for 15.
But Mumbai had some serious work to do and the consistent Dwayne Smith dropped anchor to crack 44 off 39 balls while Ambati Rayudu (29), Rohit Sharma (33) and million dollar baby Glenn Maxwell (37) chipped in with valuable knocks to help the Indian T20 League champions to a formidable 202/6 off 20 overs. It was high quality batting from both Sharma and Maxwell, who were severe on anything slightly loose and punished an otherwise disciplined Rajasthan attack. An inexperienced team, barring the likes of Dravid and Watson, not used to playing finals and big league international cricket, looked clearly overawed by the big occasion and some of the bowlers got a bit carried away.
Apart from Pravin Tambe (4-019-2), every other bowler turned out to be extremely expensive and looked out of sorts playing outside Jaipur. But it would be fair to say that Mumbai's batsmen were well prepared and had decided to minimise any risks against the in-form Tambe.
Finally Clt20 2013 title winner is Mumbai Indians.
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