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Before the game, Mumbai Indians (MI) posted a video of all-rounder Hardik Pandya saying that he wants to emulate his last season’s cameo against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the next game. Pandya had said, “You need to feel like a boss. You need to feel like you have that aura where everyone is going to think- oh, what is going to happen now.” In a crucial game for MI, Pandya did not just execute a cameo but played the perfect role of a finisher, a role that he has been assigned by MI and the national side ahead of T20 World Cup.
Before the 17th over of the run chase, Pandya was struggling to hit the ball clean batting on 12 off 16 deliveries. MI needed 40 runs off the last four overs and their run chase record had not been impressive in the second phase. Pandya decided to target Mohammed Shami. Before this match, Shami had dismissed him three times and the all-rounder had scored just 13 runs off 17 deliveries. However, Pandya did not let the past record get to his head and hit the fast bowler for a four and a six.
In the penultimate over, Hardik decided to finish the match with 16 needed off the last two. In last four deliveries of Shami’s spell, Hardik hit him for two fours, ran a couple and finished the match with a six. The MI batter had luck on his side too as Deepak Hooda dropped the catch and then carried it over the boundary.
The 27-year-old remained unbeaten on 40 off 30 deliveries. He had support from Kieron Pollard as well. The veteran scored 15 runs off seven deliveries to help chase down the target of 136. The six-wicket win helped MI climb to the fifth spot and improve their net run rate as well. Now Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and MI have 10 points from 11 games but Eoin Morgan’s side has a much better net run rate.
Tiwary impresses again
Given a chance in the middle order in place of Ishan Kishan, Saurabh Tiwary helped MI recover from two quick wickets in powerplay over. Tiwary missed out on his half-century but set a foundation for the run chase. The southpaw scored 45 runs from 37 deliveries including three fours and two sixes.
Milestone for Pollard
With the wickets of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle, Pollard completed his 300 T20 wickets. Pollard became the first player in the format to have completed the double of 10,000 runs and 300 wickets. He is the 11th bowler to reach the feat.
Bishnoi’s double blow
Ravi Bishnoi did not have a great record playing in Abu Dhabi before this game. The leg-spinner sent shivers down MI dugout by getting the wickets of skipper Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav on consecutive balls in the fourth over of run chase.
Tough road ahead of Kings
In sixth place on the points table now, PBKS need to win each of their remaining matches to have a chance of qualifying for playoffs. They have won four games out of 11 in the tournament so far.
