#ThrowbackThursday - 5 Mad dashes

In this edition, let's look at list of most scored by a team in the last 5 overs of an IPL innings

5. RCB vs MI, Wankhede 2015 - 88 runs

 

               There was a period of time when RCB meant 3 names trying to win the game all by themselves. Gayle, AB, Kohli. The embodiment of that is this scorecard. Only 3 batters batted. Scored 235 batting first. Including the then highest partnership in all T20s.. Won the game. Easy peasy. But the details are what makes it even more incredible. RCB were 88/1 at the end of 10 overs on a batting paradise at the Wankhede stadium. Even though AB had started brightly, Kohli was batting on 30 off 23 balls. Then the magic happened. As we have seen numerous times since, two of the preeminent batters of their generation created a sense of awe, matching each other shot for shot and taking 59 runs of the next 5 overs. If that was crazy, they went a few steps further and scored 88 runs of the last 5 overs, the most ever in the IPL till then. Even Malinga, who had given just 13 runs in his first 3 overs was taken for 14 runs in his last over. AB finished with 133(59) and Kohli 82(50). 

4. MI vs KXIP, Abu Dhabi 2020 - 89 runs

          For quite a while, MI had Pollard and Pandya brothers at 5-7. During that period, MI won 3 of their 5 titles. It was not a coincidence. In this match, MI batted first and MI struggled to 87/3 at end of 14 overs. Rohit and Pollard took the next 2 overs for 37 runs to start the rampage. But Shami pulled it back with a 5 run over including Rohit's wicket. It led to an unfavorable match up. KXIP had been struggling with their death bowling for the whole season and had dropped their best death bowler in Jordan for this match. Hardik Pandya and Pollard were two elite hitters in their prime. The result was utter carnage. 18 runs in 18th over was followed by 19 runs in the 19th over. It showed the poor planning of KXIP when K Gowtham had to bowl the 20th over. 6 balls, 4 sixes and 25 runs later, MI finished with 191, Pollard and Pandya both had SR of 230+ and the game was decided in the first innings itself. 

3. MI vs RCB, Dubai 2020 - 89 runs

                 Second entry for 2020 IPL champions MI. This is the only entry on this list while chasing. A strong finish by AB and Dube took RCB to 201. In the chase, Kishan was overcoming a sluggish start when MI stuttered to 122 off 16 overs, needing a further 80 of the last 4 overs. Then, Kishan and Pollard took apart two of the best white ball spinners going around in Zampa and Chahal to score 49 of the next 2 overs leaving a relatively easier target of 31 of the last 2. Saini finished one the best 40-run spells leaving Udana with 19 runs to defend. It almost didn't prove to be enough as 18 runs were scored and match was decided by a Super over in a thrilling finish.

2. RCB vs KKR, Eden Gardens 2019 - 91 runs

                RCB were in the midst of a poor season. They had already lost to KKR, Andre Russell in particular, while defending a big score in their home match. Now in the away leg, batting first, they would've been wary of the wonder season Russell was having. At 122/2 after 15 overs, it looked like RCB and Kohli had maybe misjudged by playing safe again. The carnage began with Moeen Ali hammering Kuldeep Yadav with a 27 run over, which took Kuldeep almost 3 years to recover from. Kohli then proceeded with his trademark acceleration as he moved from 55 off 42 balls to 100 off 57 balls and RCB scored 90+ runs in the last 5 overs for the 2nd time in the IPL, a feat no other team has achieved even once. 

1. RCB vs GL, Bengaluru 2016 - 112 runs

                 The Magnum Opus. If 2016 was Virat Kohli's IPL magnum opus, this partnership was the Kohli-AB bromance's magnum opus. Put into bat, Kohli and AB had begun unassumingly at 19/1 in the 4th over. Both had been in punishing form all through the IPL, but this was beyond amazing. They started accelerating and kept going. They started breaking records and kept going. The highest partnership in a T20 match. The most runs scored in the last 5 overs of a T20 innings. The first pair to score 2 double century partnerships. The second pair to score a century each in the same innings. They took 30 runs off 2 separate overs and 112 runs in all off the last 5 overs. It hasn't been surpassed in 7 years since, such was it's magnitude.