(Image source from: thehindu.com)

Mumbai Indians in a nail-biting Indian Premier League (IPL) final on Sunday clinched the title for the fourth time with a narrow one-run win over Chennai Super Kings.

CSK needed two runs off the last ball to overtake Mumbai’s 149-8 after Shane Watson hit a blistering 80, but the Sri Lankan veteran bowled Shardul Thakur lbw to claim the landmark win.

In his four overs, Malinga gave away 49 runs but the last two overs by the Sri Lankan bowler Jasprit Bumrah who took 2-14, were decisive.

Kieron Pollard, the West Indies batsman smashed an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls to set up the Mumbai total.

"The team that panics less does better. It was a team performance," said Pollard as the Mumbai players celebrated on the pitch.

Watson batted through the CSK innings until he was run out in the final over going for a reckless second run. He smashed eight fours and four sixes in his 59-ball knock.

Ishan Kishan sent CSK captain M.S. Dhoni back to the dugout with a direct throw at the bowlers' end to put the defending champions in hassle at 82-4. Dhoni made just two.

Earlier Chennai leg-spinner Imran Tahir took 2-23 to stand out fellow South African Kagiso Rabada as the top IPL bowlers chart this year with 26 wickets.

Deepak Chahar took three wickets while fellow quick Shardul Thakur took two.

The winning captain for a record fourth time, Rohit Sharma said: “Throughout the season we played good cricket. That’s why we finished top. We broke the tournament into half, focused on the first half and then needed to take it one game at a time. The entire squad plays a part. Our bowling in this tournament has been excellent. At different stages, the bowlers brought us back into the game, put their hand up and took responsibility. That’s why we got the rewards. After going for those many runs in his third over, Malinga... that’s what champions do. I wanted to back somebody who has done it in that situation. I am learning every game [as a captain], every tournament. The captain is just a representative of the team.”

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, an adviser to the Mumbai team, nervously watched the finale, frequently concealing his head in his hands.

"The key moment was Dhoni's run-out," he said. "But also in patches when Bumrah bowled those critical balls to even out Malinga's one poor over was also crucial. And the last over, I thought Malinga finished the game out beautifully."

Mumbai Indians won the Indian Premier League in 2013 and 2015 - both against Chennai - and once again in 2017 when they outscored Rising Pune Supergiant by one run.

By Sowmya Sangam