IPL has often seen unprecedented batting records. The batsmen have grown bolder, the bats have become bigger that ensured high-scoring totals. Boundaries have become smaller, all these factors have contributed to high totals being posted. The bowlers are often at the mercy of batsmen. But despite all odds, there have been instances when teams have managed to restrict oppositions to a low score. These matches have made up for exciting encounters.
StumpsandBails bring to you 5 such low scoring games where teams managed to defend their total
#5 MI vs PWI, 2012 (120)
The Mumbai Indians batting first managed to post a paltry score of 120. They lost 9 wickets in the process. The Pune Warriors India seemed all set to overhaul the target at the halfway stage. But their chase never got going. They struggled right through their innings. Despite Mithun Manhas’s best efforts, they fell short by 1 run and finished at 119.
#4 KXIP vs MI, 2009 (119)
The Mumbai Indians weren’t the gun team in the earlier seasons of IPL as they are now. They often found ways to lose matches from winning positions. This match was no different. MI were chasing a low score of 120 against Kings XI Punjab. But all that MI could manage was a score of 116. They went on to lose the game by 3 runs.
#3 SRH vs PWI, 2013 (119)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have always boasted of a quality bowling attack. Their spinners have won them games out of nowhere. SRH had posted a total of 119. The Pune Warriors India looked on well course to a comfortable win. But veteran spinner, Amit Mishra weaved his magic and derailed PWI’s run-chase. He took 4-19 and SRH went on to defeat PWI by 11 runs.
#2 SRH vs MI, 2018 (118)
Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Kane Williamson were the table-toppers of IPL 2018. Their bowlers drove their campaign. Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar were all over the batsmen in that season. SRH batting first on a belter off a Wankhede wicket posted 118 runs. Nobody expected them to pull off a win from there. But SRH managed to do exactly that. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 32 runs. MI were dismissed cheaply for 87 runs.
#1 CSK vs KXIP, 2009 (116)
Chennai Super Kings squared up against Kings XI Punjab in a must-win game. But batting first all they could manage was to post 116 runs. The match was played in South Africa. Yet the CSK spinners managed to keep the KXIP batsmen in check. KXIP could only muster 92-9 in response. CSK went on to win this low-scoring game by 24 runs.
