When the Aussie pacer lit up Navi Mumbai with a magical spell that still stands tall in IPL playoff history
Remember when the IPL was still in its raw, unpredictable stage, where every match felt like a page-turner and even a total as modest as 142 could bring high drama? Well, let's rewind the clock to April 22, 2010. The venue: DY Patil Stadium. The occasion: the second semi-final of IPL 2010. And the star of the night? A lanky Aussie quick who wore a headband and bowled like he had springs in his boots—Doug Bollinger.
On that warm Navi Mumbai night, Chennai Super Kings didn't put up a mountain of runs. In fact, they scraped together 142 for 7—a total that wouldn't usually have bowlers sleeping easily. But Doug Bollinger? He didn't just rest easy—he made sure Deccan Chargers had nightmares.
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CSK's innings didn't start with a bang; it began with a stumble. Hayden, Vijay, and Raina were back in the dugout before the powerplay had even cooled off. The scoreboard read 29 for 3, and it looked like the men in yellow were heading for disaster.
But Badrinath and MS Dhoni walked in, patching things up. They didn't go hammer and tongs, but they steadied the ship. Badrinath made 37 off 41, Dhoni chipped in with 30, and Anirudha's 24-run cameo ensured CSK crossed 140. Was it enough? No one knew. But Bollinger had plans. Big ones.
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Bollinger didn't waste any time. In his very first over, he sent back the dangerous Adam Gilchrist (15). The Deccan skipper, trying to clear the infield, found Anirudha Srikanth in the deep. That was the first crack.
Then came T Suman, the next man in. His stay was shorter than a Bollywood teaser. Four balls later, he walked back after nicking one to the slips. Bollinger was breathing fire. He had already knocked the top off the Deccan innings in two overs.
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He wasn't done. He returned to break the backbone of the chase. Bodapati Sumanth (16) couldn’t handle the heat. Timber! Clean bowled. The Chargers were now flailing.
And just when Ryan Harris (15)—Deccan's unlikely final hope—began to swing his bat, Bollinger ended his charge with a cleverly disguised delivery. Catch taken, game over.
Figures? 4 overs, 1 maiden, 13 runs, and 4 wickets. No sixes, just two boundaries conceded. And pressure? He applied it to every single ball. His spell of 4 for 13 remains the best-ever bowling performance in IPL playoff history till now. Yes, even after all these years.
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While Bollinger led the charge, he wasn't acting alone. Ashwin spun a tight web, conceding just 14 runs and claiming a crucial wicket. Muralitharan and Albie Morkel contributed, while Jakati took 2 wickets despite conceding 44 runs. Raina, yes, Suresh Raina, bowled just two balls—and claimed a wicket.
Deccan crumbled like a house of cards. From 48 for 4, they were bowled out for 104. CSK marched into the final, and the Deccan juggernaut came to a crashing halt after five consecutive wins.
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Years have passed. The IPL has witnessed fiery yorkers, mysterious spin, and hat-tricks. But no one has surpassed Bollinger's figures in a knockout game. His 4 for 13 isn't just a stat—it's a statement. That sometimes, the bat doesn't always dominate T20 cricket. That sometimes, just sometimes, a bowler can seize the spotlight, one searing delivery at a time.
