Hyderabad: Rohit Sharma played a brilliant innings, scoring 70 runs off 46 deliveries, leading the Mumbai Indians (MI) to a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) during their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Wednesday. The triumph, achieved with 26 balls remaining, represented MI's fifth win of the season, elevating them to third place in the standings.
While pursuing a target of 144, Mumbai stumbled initially, losing opening batsman Ryan Rickelton for 11 runs with only 13 on the scoreboard. Nevertheless, Rohit, in outstanding form, took control alongside Will Jacks. The pair stabilized the innings with a partnership of 64 runs, establishing a strong base for the chase.
After Jacks was dismissed for 22 runs off the bowling of Zeeshan Ansari in the 10th over with MI at 77/2, Suryakumar Yadav entered the match, matching Rohit’s aggressive style with flair. Together, they added 53 runs, thrilling the spectators with numerous boundaries and sixes.
Rohit was ultimately ousted by Eshan Malinga after a commendable score of 70, which featured eight fours and three sixes. This marked his second consecutive fifty, a milestone he last achieved in 2016, providing a much-needed boost to his form amid worries about his earlier performances.
Suryakumar Yadav finished the game not out on 40 off just 19 deliveries, concluding the encounter with a four off Ansari’s bowling. Tilak Varma remained alongside him with an unbeaten score of 2 as MI reached 146/3 in 15. 4 overs.
Among the bowlers for SRH, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, and Eshan Malinga managed to claim a wicket each, yet their efforts were insufficient to curtail a revitalized MI batting lineup.
Prior to this, Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to post 143/8 in 20 overs due to a notable 99-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Abhinav Manohar, helping them recover from a top-order collapse.
At one point, SRH found themselves in a tough spot at 35/5; however, the partnership between Klaasen (71) and Abhinav (43) propelled them to a score that gave them a fighting chance. A remarkable aspect of SRH's recovery was scoring 53 runs in the last five overs. Trent Boult was MI’s standout bowler with figures of 4/26.
After MI opted to have SRH bat first, the Orange team began poorly. Following just two runs in the first over, Trent Boult struck early, dismissing Travis Head for a four-ball duck, caught brilliantly by Naman Dhir at deep backward square leg. SRH was at 2/1 after 1. 2 overs.
SRH struggled further as Ishan Kishan was controversially ruled out to Deepak Chahar, despite not edging the ball to keeper Ryan Rickelton. Nonetheless, Kishan was unable to find his rhythm after a century in the opening match, mustering only one run. SRH was at 9/2 after 2. 1 overs.
Boult then took a crucial wicket, claiming Abhishek for just eight runs off eight balls, as he attempted a lofty shot but was caught by Puthur at cover point. Deepak also dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy, who continued to struggle in the tournament, adding only two runs off six balls. SRH found themselves at 13/4 in 4. 1 overs.
By the conclusion of the powerplay, which was dismal for SRH, the Orange Army stood at 24/4, with Aniket Verma (9) and Heinrich Klaasen (2) remaining at the crease.
Half of the SRH squad found themselves back in the dugout when Hardik Pandya dismissed Aniket for 12 runs off 14 deliveries, with Rickelton taking the catch. At this point, SRH's score stood at 35 for the loss of five wickets after 8. 3 overs.
The pressure was somewhat alleviated for SRH during the 10th over bowled by Puthur, as Klaasen launched an aggressive attack, striking two fours and a six to contribute 15 runs for the team. Klaasen's boundary towards deep square leg brought SRH to 50 runs in 9. 4 overs.
In the following over, Klaasen targeted MI's captain Hardik and hit three boundaries, adding 16 more runs and trying to mount a resurgence.
Nevertheless, the next three overs yielded only 13 runs. Mitchell Santner was particularly economical, surrendering just five runs in his two overs, while Jasprit Bumrah conceded eight runs, effectively stalling the growing run-rate.
Klaasen reached his first fifty of the season off 34 balls, comprising seven fours and a six. After 15 overs, SRH's score was 90 for 5, with Klaasen unbeaten on 51 and Abhinav Manohar not out at 12.
In the 17th over, Abhinav confidently faced Bumrah as the team crossed the 100-run milestone in 16. 1 overs. Both Klaasen and Manohar managed to hit Bumrah for two fours, contributing a total of 11 runs.
During the 18th over, SRH continued to amass runs. Abhinav struck Hardik for a four and a six, with him and Klaasen adding 13 runs to the tally.
The impressive partnership of 99 runs between Klaasen and Abhinav came to an end as Klaasen, in his pursuit of a second consecutive six off Bumrah, found Tilak Varma's hands. Klaasen departed after scoring 71 runs off 44 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. At that stage, SRH was at 134 for 6 after 19 overs, and Bumrah claimed his 300th T20 wicket.
In the last over, Abhinav hit a six off Boult but was eventually bowled out for 43 runs off 27 balls, including two fours and three sixes. SRH's score read 142 for 7 after 19. 4 overs. They finished with a total of 143 for 8, as Boult dismissed SRH captain Pat Cummins on the final delivery. Despite the early setbacks, SRH's recovery was noteworthy, scoring 53 runs in the final five overs.
Boult was MI's leading wicket-taker, finishing with 4 wickets for 26 runs in his four overs. Deepak also took 2 wickets for just 12 runs in four overs, while Pandya and Bumrah each claimed one wicket.
