Will-powered MI triumph
Mumbai: Mumbai Indians continued their ascent in the Indian Premier League with a four-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a one-sided contest on a tricky wicket here on Thursday.
Led by Will Jacks who played a decisive role with a fine 36 off 26 balls after a crucial spell of 3-0-14-2, MI executed an all-round show to record their second consecutive win.
The home side came on top for having assessed the Wankhede Stadium pitch accurately and adapting quickly to the conditions it presented, with each of the pieces falling in place for the five-time winners.
MI’s fast bowlers used the short and slower balls well throughout the first innings and nailed their yorkers perfectly. In the run chase, the MI batters showed a clear plan to keep finding the boundaries which kept them on top.
Chasing 163 on a pitch which had grip and turn, MI were also benefited by SRH’s reluctance to bring on spin in the powerplay, as the home side made 166/6 in 18.1 overs to record their third win of the season.
Even though Rohit Sharma endured another failure after a promising start in which he made 26 off 16 balls with three sixes, he gave MI the momentum with the bat and the others capitalised on it.
Opener Ryan Rickelton made a fluent 31 while Suryakumar Yadav hammered two sixes and as many fours to make 26 (off 15 balls) to provide a strong support to Jacks.
Captain Hardik Pandya played a crucial cameo of 21 off just nine balls to take MI to the threshold of victory. Tilak Varma (21 not out) then took MI over the line after a late minor hiccup as the home side reached 166/ 6 in 18.1 overs.
In the first half, Sunrisers Hyderabad found late momentum with the bat to fight their way through and post 162 for 5.
With the surface at the Wankhede Stadium providing grip and turn for the spinners and slower deliveries giving dividends to the pace bowlers, Sunrisers Hyderabad batters struggled to adapt to the wicket for most part of the innings.
But a big finish - 57 runs coming off the last five overs - gave SRH some much-needed impetus towards the end.
Brief scores: SRH: 162/5 in 20 overs (Abhishek 40; Jacks 2/14); MI: 166/6 in 18.1 overs (Jacks 36, Rickelton 31; Cummins 3/26).
