Six, six, six! David's final-over fireworks lift Mumbai

Tim David had been searching for one of his finishing hurricanes for some time in the Indian Premier League - and when the storm finally arrived in Mumbai, it simply blew Rajasthan Royals away.

In another IPL finish which once seemed incredible but now passes almost as workaday, David was asked to hit 17 off the last over to give Mumbai Indians victory over the Royals on Sunday.

Instead, it took the Australian big hitter just three balls.

He walloped six, six, six to power the home side to a devilishly difficult six-wicket win - but perhaps a fittingly dramatic end to the league's landmark 1000th game.

All three came off calamitous full tosses from former West Indian captain Jason Holder, who appeared to be simply trying too hard to contain the Aussie international and overpitched his attempted yorkers, only to watch in despair as the 27-year-old provided the trio of knock-out punches.

Image Id: B5781F7A5F064468AB3265898AE647EA Image Caption: David finished with 45 off 14 balls faced // BCCI/IPL

"I've wanted to play an innings like this for a while," smiled David, who, before Mumbai teammate was bought for more than $3m, was the highest-paid of all Australians when he was snapped up before the 2022 competition for $1.53m.

This was a dazzling demonstration of exactly why the Singapore-born batter, now in his second season with Mumbai, was originally deemed worth the big bucks as he provided a ruthless, clinical finish to the Indians' chase of Rajasthan's 7-212.

It was the first time that a 200-plus total has ever been successfully chased down at the Wankhede Stadium in the IPL.

The Royals had earlier been inspired by a remarkable knock from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit 124 off 62 balls - the highest in the league this year at an average of exactly two runs per ball - featuring eight sixes.

He scored 106 more than any of his colleagues - and he even belted a short one from the fearsome Jofra Archer right out of the ground in a quite extraordinary display.

But on a belting pitch, though, it had always looked an attainable target, until David's star Australian teammate Green fell for a sparkling 44 off 26 balls - hitting a couple of huge sixes himself - and then the magical Suryakumar Yadav got dismissed for 55 off 29 balls.

Image Id: 82D8BB81805B46ACA0397FD4A409E3E5 Image Caption: Cameron Green hit 44 off 26 including two sixes // BCCI/IPL

When David came to the crease, 72 were still needed off 4.2 overs but, with help from Tilak Varma's 29no off 21 balls, the West Australian was in breathtaking form from the outset to chase down the unlikely win.

Off just 14 balls, he changed the course of the match with five sixes and two fours in his 45no.

"In the final over, I tried to get in front and close the angle down, play good shots," he smiled. "It was good to bat at the end. Amazing feeling to win like that.

Earlier, in Chennai, the home Super Kings were beaten in another dramatic finale by Punjab Kings' Sikandar Raza, who guided his side to a four-wicket victory off the final ball.

Needing three off the final ball, the Zimbabwe batter pulled to the vacant square leg area and ran the decisive three to reach 6-201, earning a victory which had looked a tall order after New Zealand's in-form Devon Conway had cracked 92no off 52 balls in Chennai's 4-200.

Aussies in IPL 2023

Delhi Capitals: Mitch Marsh ($1.2m), David Warner ($1.16m)

Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade ($446,000)

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis ($1.7m), Daniel Sams ($135,000)

Mumbai Indians: Tim David ($1.53m), Cameron Green ($3.15m), Jason Behrendorff ($135,000), Riley Meredith ($272,000)

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis ($135,000), Matt Short ($36,000)

Rajasthan Royals: Adam Zampa ($270,000)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazlewood ($1.4m), Glenn Maxwell ($2m)

Figures represent auction price in Australian dollars at time of sale