Chennai, Oct 9: Mumbai Indians were crowned 'Champion of Champions' after they defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 31 runs in the final of the Nokia Champions League Twenty20 2011.
Despite defending what many thought to be a below-par total, Mumbai Indians bowled their hearts out and fielded well to keep the pressure on RCB. Though RCB got off to a good start - with Tillakaratne Dilshan (27) and Chris Gayle (5) adding 38 in four overs, Mumbai Indians pulled things back once they got their first breakthrough in the form of Dilshan's wicket.
Gayle, who has been outstanding in the tournament, was unlucky as he was given out LBW to a ball that seemed headed past the off stump.
Virat Kohli, who played blinders in his previous two innings, too failed. With the big boys back in the dressing room, and the young middle order finding it too hard to score runs off the Mumbai Indians spin duo, the 22-year-old had to take his chances. Unfortunately for him, it didn't come off today. He attempted to hit Harbhajan Singh over mid-wicket, but holed out to Aiden Blizzard patrolling the fence. The rest of the RCB middle-order couldn't quite get its act together and RCB were eventually bowled out for 108 in 19.2 overs.
Mumbai Indians' skipper Harbhajan Singh led from the front as he picked up three wickets for 20 in his four overs. He received good support from Yuzvendra Chahal (2/9), Abu Nechim (2/26) and Kieron Pollard (1/21).
Earlier in the evening, Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bat first. On a pitch where playing shots was difficult, five Mumbai Indians batsmen got off to starts, but none converted it to a big score.
Ambati Rayudu flattered to deceive with a 21-ball 22, Suryakumar Yadav made 24 off 17 balls, while opener Sarul Kanwar made 13. James Franklin was the only MI batsman to post some kind of a respectable score with 41.
Given the conditions, and the fact that Mumbai Indians had slipped to 65/3 by the halfway mark and didn't have much momentum in their innings, it was a little surprising that the big-hitting Pollard did not walk in before Yadav. The Trinidadian, who is capable of destructing bowling attacks, walked in to bat in the 14th over and lasted only five deliveries. He attempted to hit Vettori over long off, but was beaten by the slow turn and holed out to Kohli at the boundary.
Malinga used the long handle to good effect in the final overs as he hit two sixes in his 11-ball 16 and added 26 with Rajagopal Sathish. But once Raju Bhatkal had dismissed both batsmen off consecutive deliveries, Mumbai Indians were in danger of getting bowled out without utilising their 20 overs. However, the last pair of Abu Nechim and Chahal ensured their team used up all their 20 overs.
With MI staring down the barrel at 109 for 7, RCB captain Daniel Vettori smartly bowled out his key bowlers by the end of the 17th over. Dirk Nannes - despite suffering a stomach upset - bowled his best spell in the competition today and finished with figures of 1 for 14, while Vettori's four overs cost 30 runs apart from fetching his team two important wickets. Bhatkal's three overs cost his team 21 runs, but he picked up three crucial wickets.
The Mumbai Indians, making their second appearance in the CLT20, and perhaps the least formidable of the teams at the start - given that they had lost several of their key players to injuries - take home the winners purse of $2,500,000. Royal Challengers Bangalore, making their third appearance in the Champions League Twenty20, have to be content with being runners-up and a purse of $1,300,000.
Brief score: Mumbai Indians 139 in 20 overs (James Franklin 41, Suryakumar Yadav 24, Raajoo Bhatkal 3/21) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 108 in 19.2 overs (Tillakaratne Dilshan 27, Saurabh Tiwary 17, Harbhajan Singh 3/20, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/9)
Man-of-the-Match: Harbhajan Singh, for his three wickets - which included those of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.
Winner of Golden Bat: David Warner of New South Wales Blues, for scoring 328 runs in the Nokia CLT20 2011.
Winner of Golden Wicket: Lasith Malinga, for taking 10 wickets in the Nokia CLT20 2011.
Man-of-the-Series: Lasith Malinga for bowling the way he did and playing some good knocks with the bat too.
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