Mumbai Indians hold their nerve to stop a spirited comeback from Gujarat Titans to set up Qualifier II date with Punjab Kings
Having made 228/5 on the back of Rohit Sharma’s 81, if Mumbai Indians thought they had the game in their bag at the half-way stage, they got a rude awakening. In an 84-run stand off 44 balls, B Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar not only put Mumbai under pressure, but were setting up for a grand finish when Jasprit Bumrah decided to have one final say. With 78 needed off 39 with 8 wickets in hand, Bumrah came up with a yorker for the ages that took out Washington and the leg-stump as Mumbai drilled through that opening to wrap up the contest by 20 runs.
A titanic effort
For a team that has put up the best batting show this IPL, they needed to bring out their A-game with the bat to stay alive. Chasing 229, odds were against Gujarat as Mumbai have never lost a game in 17 instances of defending a total of 200 and above. Gujarat also had to do it without Jos Buttler against an attack that includes Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah. And as has been the case throughout this season, Gujarat have found ways to score with their top-order doing the bulk of the scoring.
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Since the IPL resumption, they have come across as a side struggling for momentum with the top-order unable to continue the job they began with aplomb. And after Boult took out Shubman Gill, if one thought the fizz would disappear soon, then B Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar showed Gujarat won’t go away without a fight. Their 84 run partnership for the third wicket that came off just 44 deliveries left Mumbai searching for answers. At the half-way mark, the five-time champions think-tank including head coach Mahela Jayawardene, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, were all lined-up beside the boundary hoardings making animated gestures as all their well-laid plans were being dismantled in the most textbook way by Sai Sudharsan and Washington.
Two moments of brilliance ⚡️
Were these two the defining moments of the #Eliminator? 🤔
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/R4RTzjQfph#TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #TheLastMile | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/7hDL0s5Mye
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After the early loss of Gill, it was Sudharsan who brought Gujarat back with an effortless six off Boult before unleashing shots either side of square that sped to the boundary on an outfield that was soaked in dew. And before Washington joined the southpaw, Kusal Mendis, replacing Buttler, played a cameo of 20 as Gujarat once again got the start they needed.
From there on till Bumrah produced a moment of brilliance in the fourth ball of the 14th over, it was all about Sai Sudharsan and Washington as none from the Mumbai attack was spared. Bumrah was whipped and pulled for boundaries by Sudharsan while Washington pulled and swat Boult for a couple of sixes. In between those, the two left-handers played with the field, picking gaps with perfection to ensure the asking rate stayed in control as at the end of the 13th over, Gujarat were ahead of Mumbai.
That’s when Bumrah produced the ball of the match. With the game in balance, he went back to his armoury, picked up the most lethal yorker he had in his shelf and executed it with precision that Washington missed it totally and tumbled flat on the turf. That gave Mumbai the opening before Richard Gleeson removed Sai Sudharsan two overs later. And from there on, Gujarat lost their way to fall short by 20 runs.
Hitman to the party
This has been a season where Rohit Sharma has started slowly before finding his groove. His knock on Friday mirrored the trend, where after being given two lives – by Gerald Coetzee and Kusal Mendis – early on before he crossed 13, Rohit exploded to take the game away from Gujarat in no time. But before he began his fireworks, all the early damage was done by Jonny Bairstow – the replacement player for the in-form Ryan Rickelton.
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Having joined the team after the IPL resumed, Bairstow didn’t show any signs of rustiness and instead hit the accelerator straightaway, taking on this season’s stand-out pacer Prasidh Krishna. But the real change of momentum shifting completely towards Mumbai came in the fourth over where Bairstow heaved Prasidh for two sixes and two boundaries as the seaming deck that Royal Challengers Bengaluru enjoyed in the Qualifier was nowhere to be seen.
Fearless 🔥
🔽 Watch Rohit Sharma’s blistering knock of 81(50) 👏#TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile | @ImRo45
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Even as Rohit was getting his eye in, Bairstow was in his elements as his free-flowing batting was to the forefront here with horizontal bat shots being the stand-out. His 22-ball stay, where he scored 47 runs with 4 boundaries and 3 sixes provided the impact that Mumbai needed.
Bairstow’s explosive start meant, Rohit was able to pace his innings, but wasn’t going to be overtly cautious. At 19 off 15 deliveries, the arrival of R Sai Kishore in the last over of the powerplay is when Rohit began to open up, with his signature sweep sending the ball soaring over deep square-leg. Two more boundaries in that over, both via sweeps meant Mumbai had 79 in the powerplay – their highest this season and by the time Bairstow departed, Rohit was now orchestrating the innings.
Having slipped in a quiet first over for a change, where he conceded just two runs, Rashid Khan would have thought this was his night as he had taken just 9 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 57.11 and at a worrying economy rate of 9.34. But his form showed no signs of changing as Rohit once again relied on his sweep and inside-out shots to neutralize the Afghan. With his being a huge outfield, Rohit had only four sixes to show in his knock of 81, the 9 boundaries, though were a testament to his ability to pick the gaps to perfection.
Rohit’s assuring innings meant, Suryakumar Yadav arrived and went back with a breezy cameo of 33 off 20 before Tilak Varma (25 off 11) and Hardik Pandya (22 off 9) gave the finishing touches. Having put a commendable show before the IPL was suspended, it had gone downhill for Gujarat with the ball. After conceding 230, 255 and 199 in the last three matches, they ended up giving 228/5 on Friday.
