Record-Breaking Century Powers Mumbai to Last-Ball Champions Trophy Triumph
A blistering 114 off 52 deliveries caps off a heart-stopping 220-run chase before 65,000 roaring spectators at Wankhede Stadium.
Executive Briefing
In one of the most spellbinding finishes in franchise cricket history, an audacious last-over six sealed an improbable championship victory from the jaws of defeat.
MUMBAI — In an electrifying display of batting prowess that will echo through cricketing folklore, middle-order stalwart Rajan Varma smashed a peerless 114 not out to propel his side to an improbable last-ball victory in the Champions Trophy final at Wankhede Stadium.
Chasing an imposing target of 224 set by their southern rivals, the chase seemed precarious at 142 for 5 in the sixteenth over. However, Varma orchestrated a masterclass in calculated aggression, punishing short-pitched bowling and dispatching the final delivery over long-off for six with two runs required.
"I kept telling myself to watch the seam and trust my swing," an emotional Varma stated during the post-match presentation as confetti rained down upon the pitch. "The crowd was our twelfth man tonight."
The innings represents the highest individual score in a tournament final in domestic T20 history, cementing Varma’s claim for national selection ahead of next spring’s World Championship.
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