Mumbai Indians (MI) managed to win their seventh match of the league stage but it was nowhere enough to get them the fourth spot on Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 points table. Defending a huge total of 236, Rohit Sharma-led MI needed to defeat by 171 runs for which SRH needed to be bundled out for a mere 64. It was too tough an equation for MI as they beat SRH by 42 runs in a high-scoring affair at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Pandey performs in run chase
Chasing 236, SRH did not lose the plot early on. The first wicket got out only after 64 runs were added to the score. Openers Jason Roy and Abhishek Sharma’s thirties helped SRH stay almost at par with the required run rate. Mohammad Nabi and Abdul Samad were promoted up the order but registered single-digit scores. Stand-in skipper Manish Pandey and Priyam Garg tried tried to revive the run chase but the required run rate kept rising up. Garg got out for 29 but Pandey carried on. Jason Holder, Rashid Khan and Wriddhiman Saha registered single-digit scores as SRH could not get close to the target. Pandey remained unbeaten for 69 off 41 deliveries getting the score to 193/8.
Menacing Kishan and Surya
MI gave themselves a chance with the bat after opting to bat first. Ishan Kishan unleashed absolute carnage with his 16-ball half-century, the joint third-fastest in IPL history. Kishan went on to score 84 runs from 32 balls before getting out in the 10th over. Suryakumar Yadav picked up here Kishan left off taking SRH bowlers to the cleaners. While wickets fell at the other end, Yadav kept hitting from the other end. He registered his IPL career-best score of 82 from 40 deliveries.
Nabi’s fielding record
Mohammad Nabi took five catches in the match which is the most in any IPL game by any fielder. Only wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakarra has taken five catches in a single game. Replacing an injured Kane Williamson, Nabi struggled with the ball scoring just three runs and leaking 33 runs from his three overs.
Chawla’s MI debut
Piyush Chawla finally got a game in IPL 2021. The leg-spinner took one wicket but went for 38 runs in his four overs. The left-handed batter got a chance to bat in the death overs as well but bagged a two-ball duck trying to slog the ball over the boundary.
