The adrenaline is high, the teams are in their zone and playoff spots are beckoning. No wonder, then, the IPL stars are hitting top gear to deliver stunning performances. The last week has featured a remarkable debut, some incredible fielding and a thoroughly entertaining, if one-sided, contest between two highly rated compatriots. Relive the week that was as IPL blasts into the crunch games.

Airborne Raina

Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers – May 4, 2012

Despite losing Shikhar Dhawan in the eleventh over to a freak run-out, the Deccan Chargers, in pursuit of 161, must have fancied their chances of getting to the post given their two most experienced players – Cameron White and Kumar Sangakkara – were at the crease.

From 77 for two, DC soon slipped to 85 for three, thanks to a spectacular catch from Suresh Raina. Sangakkara, still new at the crease, drove a flighted delivery from Raina off the backfoot and then watched as the bowler flung himself full length to his right and plucked the ball inches from the ground.

It was a moment of magic that energised the entire CSK team; the defending champions would strangle their opponents thereafter, clawing their way into the match and going on to win by 10 runs.

Steve ‘Superman’ Smith

Pune Warriors India v Kolkata Knight Riders – May 5, 2012

When Murali Kartik dished out a longhop, the woefully out-of-form Yusuf Pathan rocked back and pulled it with all his might towards the midwicket boundary. In normal circumstances, that shot would have fetched him six runs. On this occasion, however, Superman Steve Smith pulled off a sensational piece of fielding to save his team four runs.

Smith, fielding at wide long on, ran a few metres to his right, flung himself in the air full-stretch, caught the ball and parried it back to within the field of play; the last two actions were completed in the few micro-seconds he was airborne. Had he held on to the ball, he would have landed outside the ropes and that would have cost his team six runs; however, his presence of mind – to go with brilliant athleticism – meant only two runs were added to the KKR total.

Dwayne Smith joins the party

Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings – May 6, 2012

At one point in their chase of 174, the Mumbai Indians were sitting pretty at 134 for two, needing another 40 runs from 26 balls. A few lusty blows and a couple of wickets shortly after meant both teams had a chance heading into the final over. Mumbai Indians needed 16 to bag the two points while CSK needed to keep them to under that, or pick up three wickets, in the final six deliveries.

Dwayne Smith, playing his first match of the tournament, dug out a yorker from Ben Hilfenhaus and took a single off the first delivery of the final over. Lasith Malinga had his stumps uprooted off the next delivery and RP Singh picked up a single off the third delivery leaving MI to get 14 off the final three.

CSK must have felt they had their noses ahead at this point in time. However, one blow from the Barbadian Smith brought his team right back into the contest; he hit the fourth delivery of the over – a low full toss – high and wide over the ropes at long on. Eight from two needed, and Smith delivered; he clubbed the fifth delivery straight over the bowler’s head for a boundary and then forced the final ball of the innings to the long off boundary to seal the deal in favour of his team.

It was an incredible knock from a man who had just joined the team and was playing his first match of the season; his unbeaten 24 from nine deliveries (which included two fours and as many sixes) not only won his team the match but also fetched him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Steyn vs. Gravity

Deccan Chargers v Royal Challengers Bangalore, May 6, 2012

Virat Kohli’s eyes must have lit up when he saw Amit Mishra land one wide outside the off stump and turn further away from him. The RCB skipper stood deep in his crease and forced the delivery off the backfoot, in the air towards extra cover. The ball would have crashed straight into the advertisement boards outside the boundary – but for Dale Steyn.

The DC fast bowler ran a few paces from long off, leapt in the air, gained more height than he normally would by doing something similar to climbing a step – and plucked the ball out of thin air. Given how stiff fast bowlers generally are, and their reputation when it comes to fielding, this was a superhuman effort. Virat Kohli couldn’t believe what he’d seen; he stood stunned at the crease for a while before taking the long walk back to the dressing room.

AB trumps compatriot Steyn

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Deccan Chargers, May 6, 2012

At 143 for five after 17 overs (in their chase of 182), Royal Challengers Bangalore were almost down and out of the contest. While AB de Villiers was batting at the one end, it seemed he had only the bowlers for company.

Over 18 saw the face-off between the world’s best bowler and perhaps the world’s best batsman. Dale Steyn, who’d bowled some memorable overs earlier in the tournament, ran in full steam to bowl to his compatriot de Villiers. First up, the fast bowler served a short delivery that the batsman disdainfully dispatched into the stands at midwicket. The second ball was a ripping yorker which the batsman managed to keep out and pick up a brace. Steyn dished out a slower delivery next up which de Villiers hit to the midwicket boundary for four runs.

The following delivery was a shin-high low full toss on middle-stump – bowled at 146 kph; de Villiers made room for himself by moving to the leg-side and clobbered it over the extra-cover boundary for an unbelievable six.

Next up was a 142 kph delivery well outside off; de Villiers was up to the task this time too, he stepped outside the off stump and paddle-swept to fine-leg. After some outrageous strokeplay, sanity returned for the last ball of the over; de Villiers smartly picked up a single to keep the strike the following over.

Having scored 23 runs off the over, AB had comprehensively won the battle of the South Africans heavyweights.