Akash Madhwal wreaked havoc with his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) fifer at Chepauk as Mumbai Indians (MI) registered a dominating 81-run over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the eliminator clash. In the run chase of 183, LSG batting lineup imploded as they got all out for 101 with 21 balls left in the innings. They were proven wrong in their team selection by dropping Quinton de Kock and picking an out-of-form Deepak Hooda. The three run outs did not do them any favour as they failed to put up a fight against five-time IPL champions.
Dropping Quinton de Kock costs LSG
In LSG's run chase, Kyle Mayers showed promise early with two consecutive fours off Jason Behrendorff. In his first over, Akash Madhwal lured Prerak Mankad into slashing his bat. The outside edge was caught in the deep by Hrithik Shokeen Mayers failed to make a mark and played an uncontrolled pull shot. He was caught at mid-on. Mayers scored 18 runs from 13 deliveries including three fours. Marcus Stoinis got an early reprieve as Nehal Wadhera dropped his catch in the fifth over. In the next over, Stoinis rubbed salt on MI's wounds. The Australian all-rounder smashed Shokeen for two fours and a six. After powerplay overs, LSG were 54/2.
Madhwal's double blow
Skipper Krunal Pandya played himself in while Stoinis continued to attack. In his second over, Piyush Chawla lured Pandya into taking the aerial route. Pandya did not have enough power behind it and got caught at long-on by Tim David. He scored just eight runs from 11 balls. Madhwal came back into the attack and stunned LSG with a double blow. First, Ayush Badoni got bowled. Then, in-form Nicholas Pooran got out for a first ball duck. Pooran poked at a delivery outside off but got caught behind by Ishan Kishan. At halfway stage, LSG were 75/5.
Run outs cause chaos
Hooda who got another chance despite poor form hit a six off Chawla. But in the next over, he was involved in a collision with Stoinis which led to latter getting run out. The Australian big-hitter had no chance to make it back to the crease. He got out after scoring 40 runs from 27 balls including five fours and one six. In the next over, Hooda was involved in a yes-no situation and Krishnappa Gowtham became the victim as he was caught short of the crease. LSG were reduced to 92/7 in the 13th over.
Madhwal's maiden IPL fifer
Madhwal was brought back into the attack in the fourth over. Ravi Bishnoi went for a typical tailender slog and got caught by Jordan at long-on. In the same over, Hooda found himself and Naveen-ul-Haq trying to make ground at the same end. Hooda became the victim this time and got run out. Hooda scored 15 runs from 13 balls. Jordan followed it up with a maiden over to Mohsin Khan. Madhwal then bowled a yorker to Mohsin to wrap up the innings and register his maiden IPL fifer. He conceded just five runs from 21 balls he bowled.
Krunal takes a beating
Earlier, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. Kishan started off the innings with a boundary. Pandya then dropped him off his own bowling. Kishan smashed Gowtham for back-to-back boundaries in the second over. In Pandya's second over, Rohit broke the shackles and smashed Pandya for a six and four in the 16-run over. Naveen-ul-Haq broke the opening partnership as Rohit hit the ball straight to covers fielder Badoni. Rohit's playoffs curse continued as he scored just 11 runs from 10 balls. Chris Green got off to a positive start with two boundaries in the same over. Yash Thakur was introduced into the attack and he delivered with the wicket of Kishan. The wicketkeeper-batter edged it to Pooran. He scored 15 runs from 12 balls including three fours. Suryakumar Yadav ended the over with a six. Pandya continued to bowl and Green smashed him for three boundaries. MI had 62/2 on the board after six overs.
Naveen's double blow
Green welcomed Khan with a four. In his next over, Suryakumar played his trademark pick-up shot for a isx. Green ended the over with a monstrous hit for six. At halfway stage, MI were 98/2. Pandya brought back Suryakumar into the attack. After a boundary, Suryakumar could not pick the leg-cutter and got caught at long-off. He contributed with a 20-ball 33 including two fours and as many sixes. In the same over, Green missed the off-cutter and got bowled. He scored 41 runs from 23 balls including six fours and a six.
Cameos help MI post fighting total
Tilak Varma walked out to bat and swept Bishnoi for a massive six. No boundaries were scored off the next three overs. Varma broke the shackles and hit Naveen for a six in the 16th over. Tim David looked sluggish and threw his wicket away in an attempt to clear the boundaries against Yash Thakur. He scored a run-a-ball 13.
Wadhera hit Naveen for a six in the 18th over. Naveen came back well to remove Varma in the same over. Varma scored 26 runs from 22 balls including two fours. In the penultimate over, Mohsin got the wicket of Jordan for a single-digit score. In the final over, Wadhera did not rotate strike and hit two fours and a six. He got out off the last ball of the innings bowled by Thakur. The southpaw contributed with a cameo of 23 runs from 12 balls and help MI post 182/8.
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