IPL 2019: Match 51, MI vs SRH – Who Said What

The 2019 edition of the IPL saw its second game that went into the Super Over. Both Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fought tooth and nail at the Wankhede Stadium. In the end, it was the hosts, led by Rohit Sharma, who managed to hold their nerves and came out trumps. Most importantly, Mumbai became the third team to qualify for the playoffs with one spot left.

De Kock plays an important knock

Mumbai managed only 162 runs in 20 overs after electing to bat first. Rohit Sharma played some classic strokes to get 24 off 18 following which Khaleel Ahmed picked him up. Suryakumar Yadav’s knock of 23 off 17 was pretty similar to Rohit’s and he became Khaleel’s second victim. Mohammad Nabi picked up the crucial wicket of the dangerous Evin Lewis for cheap. Hardik Pandya perished after threatening with a 10-ball 18.

On the contrary, Quinton de Kock didn’t throw his wicket away, albeit he couldn’t get the runs at a fair clip. The southpaw scored another fifty and remained unbeaten on 69 from 58 balls. His knock was laced with six fours and a couple of sixes. Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya chipped in with cameos to propel Mumbai’s score. The hosts didn’t give any wicket to Rashid Khan, though he gave away 21 runs.

Pandey shows nerves of steel

SRH started in a positive manner as Wriddhiman Saha and Martin Guptill added 40 runs in pretty good time. However, Jasprit Bumrah helped the home team make a comeback as he sent back both Saha and Guptill off consecutive balls. While Saha got a 15-ball 25. Guptill could only notch 15 runs in his first IPL match this season. Krunal Pandya picked up the third wicket in the form of captain Kane Williamson.

Krunal removed Vijay Shankar thereafter. Abhishek Sharma couldn’t make an impact and knicked one off Hardik. Meanwhile, Manish Pandey continued his good form and racked up his third half-century this season in 37 balls with a straight-drive off Lasith Malinga. In the last five overs, the Sunrisers needed 57 runs and then 29 off the last two overs.

Nabi got a few to the boundary and kept his team in the game while Pandey hit Bumrah for two fours. The visitors needed 17 off the last over and Nabi deposited Hardik over long on. The medium pacer nipped him out in the very next ball. Pandey showed nerves of steel and scored 71 runs off 47 balls. Most importantly, he hit Hardik for a six to take the game into the Super Over.

Bumrah shows his class

SRH came out to bat with Pandey and Nabi. For Mumbai, it was Bumrah with the ball in hand. Nabi hit the speedster for a six, but the Sunrisers lost two wickets and Mumbai needed only nine runs. Hardik smacked Rashid for a six to help his team prevail in the thrilling encounter.

Kane Williamson, the SRH captain, said

I have experience of few Super Overs and that time too, I finished on the wrong side. It was a fantastic effort by Manish and Nabi to get us so close. The first half was very good for us, our bowlers did a brilliant job. We just couldn’t get over the line. We were waiting to see how many runs we will be able to get in the Super Over.

When it was eight, we decided to go with Rashid. He is world-class in everything he does so we thought he is our man. Manish has got a great rhythm to his game now. It is a shame for us that we ended up on the wrong side today. We have one game left and it is important that we approach that in a similar way.

Rohit Sharma, the MI captain, said

Feels good knowing that we are amongst the top four now. Not easy to come through the ranks and we have played some consistent cricket throughout and we have the results for it. We wanted to put runs on the board, the pitch played good for all 40 overs and runs on the board is crucial and I knew that we didn’t get the score we wanted but we knew if we get early wickets we can put the pressure on their middle order.

Manish batted really well and he played some excellent shots but I think the game-changing moment was the eight overs of spin. They bowled very well and contained the batsmen which was very important at that stage.

Jasprit Bumrah, the Player of the Match, said

Sometimes the mind can get too negative, but I would like to focus on the ball which I have to bowl and try to keep the clarity. If you are clear about the ball you are going to execute and you set the field accordingly and try to keep it as simple as possible.

There’s always pressure but I think what does the team require of me, so I’m just thinking just one ball at a time and what I have to do on that particular ball. We always talk as we have faced a lot of pressure situations and they try to guide us. In the end, it’s your own decision because if you back your own decision that’s the best way to go and going forward backing yourself is always helping.

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