Suryakumar Yadav is truly back to his own self. Suryakumar’s typical T20 batsmanship thrilled the Wankhede crowd as Mumbai Indians (MI) romped over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets in 200-run chase with 21 balls to spare. The win helped Rohit Sharma-led MI climb to the third spot with their sixth win from 11 games.
In the run chase of 200, MI got off to a good start as Ishan Kishan went after RCB bowlers. In the third over, Kishan went after Mohammed Siraj hitting him for two sixes. Kishan showed his true power when he hit Josh Hazlewood for a 102 metre six. The southpaw gave the same treatment to Wanindu Hasaranga but the Sri Lankan leggie had the last laugh. He edged one to the wicketkeeper. Kishan scored 42 runs from 21 balls including four fours and as many sixes. In the same over, Hasaranga got rid of MI skipper by trapping him in front of the stumps. Nehal Wadhera walked out to bat and got off the mark with a six. MI posted 62/2 after powerplay overs.
Wadhera and Suryakumar tried to build a partnership. In the ninth over, Wadhera got a second chance as his catch was dropped off Hasaranga's bowling. After 10 overs, MI were 99/2. Hasaranga's third over turned out to be an expensive one. Suryakumar and Wadhera hit him for one six each. Suryakumar capitalised on RCB bowlers' errors and manipulated the fielders well. In the 14th over, he took on Siraj and got to his half-century from 26 deliveries. Hasaranga took a beating again in his 15th over. Suryakumar hit the Sri Lankan leggie for two more sixes in the 20-run over.
In the 16th over, Vijaykumar Vyshak erred too many times and Suryakumar capitalised on it. He hit two sixes and one four in the over before getting out. Suryakumar scored 83 runs from just 35 balls including seven fours and six sixes. This was his highest score in IPL. Tim David walked out to bat and gave an easy catch to long-off fielder. Cameron Green played the hat-trick ball and took a single off it. In the 17th over, Wadhera finished the game with a six. The southpaw reached his half-century from 34 balls. He hit four fours and three sixes in the 52 run knock as MI won the game by six wickets with 21 balls to spare.
Earlier, Rohit won the toss and opted to field first. Du Plessis got an early reprieve as Wadhera put an easy catch down at mid-wicket. Jason Behrendorff got a wicket next ball. Virat Kohli went down the track and edged it to wicketkeeper. RCB went for the review and Kohli departed after scoring just a single. Du Plessis hit two consecutive fours in the next over bowled by Piyush Chawla. Anuj Rawat got a promotion up the order but failed to justify it. Behrendorff got his wicket in his second over. Du Plessis and Maxwell targetted Australian pacers Behrendorff and Green. Chawla took another beating in his second over as RCB had 56/2 on the board after powerplay overs.
Replacing an injured Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan was welcomed to IPL 2023 with a six by maxwell. Maxwell took on Chawla as well overcoming his weakness against spinners. Akash Madhwal took a beating from Maxwell. He reached his half-century from just 25 balls. Madhwal erred and bowled a no ball. The free hit delivery was scooped by Du Plessi for a massive six. RCB were 104/2 at halfway stage. In the 11th over, Du Plessis got to his sixth half-century of the season from 30 balls. Maxwell hit Jordan for another six in the 15-run over. Chawla's last over turned out to be expensive too. The leg-spinner conceded 12 runs from it.
Behrendorff returned to the attack and broke the partnership. Maxwell swung hard but got caught at deep mid-wicket. He scored 68 runs from 33 balls including eight fours and four sixes. Mahipal Lomror went back to the dressing room without making an impact. Kumar Kartikeya got the wicket of left-handed batter. In the next over, Green got rid of RCB skipper as substitute fielder Vishnu Vinod took a good catch at short fine leg. He scored 65 runs from 41 balls including five fours and three sixes.
Jordan returned to the attack but was unlucky as Green misjudged an easy catch for Dinesh Karthik. Karthik made MI pay in the next over with two fours and a six off Kartikeya. In the penultimate over, Jordan got his first wicket for MI, Karthik got out after scoring 30 runs from 18 balls including four fours and one six. Hasaranga and Kedar Jadhav remained not out as RCB posted 199/6. Madhwal bowled a brilliant final over conceding just six runs from it.
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