Nailbiting chases that have gone down to the wire this IPL season

Sport360 staff 15:02 03/05/2016
Batsmen who pulled off great run chases.

We have just passed the halfway mark in the Vivo IPL 2016. After a great run chase by the Kolkata Knight Riders in a final over thriller last night, we take a look at the other chases this season that have gone down to the wire.

Early in the season, Kolkata was stunned when Mumbai chased down their total with five balls to spare. Rohit Sharma opened the batting for Mumbai and remained not out in a match that saw Knight Rider Andre Russel hit for 52 runs, in his four overs.

In the 19th and 20th match of the tournament, the Gujarat Lions and Kolkata Knight Riders both batted second and won, each with just 3 balls to spare. The former match saw a century from RCB’s Virat Kholi but he was let down by his teams bowling and fielding effort.

Gujarat Lions, the newcomers, faced off against the experienced Mumbai Indians early in the season and pulled off an incredible win off the final ball of the innings. Australian opener Adam Finch sealed the victory with a boundary and was deservedly awarded man of the match.

Only 2 weeks had past and again Gujarat needed 9 runs off the last over and proved victorious on the last ball against the Rising Pune Supergiants, who thought the century from Steven Smith would seal the victory for them.

Its no surprise then, to see the clear pattern of close wins which give teams valuable points. The Gujarat Lions comfortably sit on the top of the table after no less than 3 final-over wins.

The Royal Challengers sit second last on the table with just 2 wins. Below them, the Kings XI Punjab have neither won or lost a match that has been played until the final over and currently have the wooden spoon.

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