When Mumbai Indians finished their innings at 157 runs for 8 wickets after 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Ricky Ponting’s heart must have been in his mouth. The total was well below par on a belter of a pitch and Mumbai’s Australian coach would have been hoping for his attack, particularly Lasith Malinga to come good.
Malinga did not disappoint his old adversary and current coach as he bowled his heart out to take four wickets and, more importantly, give Mumbai a win at a crucial moment in the IPL. Their victory over Sunrisers have given Mumbai some much needed breathing space as well as big hope as they try to overcome their problems to qualify for the play-offs.
Indifferent batting, again
Mumbai’s batting disappointed their fans once again. Lendl Simmons gave them a great start but his immaturity was on display when he played across the line to a Dale Steyn delivery that shattered his stumps. While Parthiv Patel flattered to deceive, it was eventually up to the old firm of Keiron Pollard and skipper Rohit Sharma to bail them out of trouble once again.
Sharma’s coming down the order is what pundits of the game (including the greatest Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar) cannot understand. The Mumbai skipper oozes with talent and has the ability to play breathtaking knocks. More importantly, he has the knack of dictating terms to any attack on any kind of pitch with his ability and approach.
Mumbai’s fans must have been disappointed to see Unmukt Chand walking in at the fall of the first wicket. Chand, like other successful younger players have promised more than what they have delivered in their fledgling career so far. They have played fleeting innings, once in a while that give people great hopes but tend to struggle when it comes to crunch time.
Mumbai fans will be hoping to see the skipper up the order in their next game simply because he has the ability to set the tone for his team. At the position they are in, at this (crucial) point in time in the tournament, Rohit’s belligerence can give a big boost to his team and give his bowlers a total they can defend.
Malinga leads the charge
Chasing 157 runs on a good batting track at the Wankhede Stadium was well within the reach of the Sunrisers. Unfortunately for the Hyderabad side, the David Dhawan production did not click at the box office. Sunrisers have too much riding on the combination of their skipper David Warner and their Indian icon Shikhar Dhawan from a batting perspective. Their successes depend mainly on the duo, who are bound to have off days every once in a while.
Malinga’s four-wicket haul must have pleased the Mumbai team management, as must have Mitchell McClenaghan’s three wickets for 20 runs. With their bowling looking a bit more settled than in the previous matches, Mumbai’s main worry is its top order batting.
They have a big challenge in finding the right opening combination and though Patel has played a good supporting role, he is not the kind who will set the attacking tone much needed by the middle-order to exploit. Ponting and Sharma will be pondering over whether Chand should keep coming in one drop, and over the prospect of the skipper’s playing up the order, as he should be doing.
Rohit and Pollard should not be playing the roles of crisis managers, as they have been doing so far in the IPL, but the kind of roles that can write a script that dictates terms by coming up the order. With Malinga back in form, there is nothing that can stop Mumbai from stepping up the ladder.
Ponting, by now, must have realised what it takes to make his team click. He has until Friday to make his next move.
Malinga did not disappoint his old adversary and current coach as he bowled his heart out to take four wickets and, more importantly, give Mumbai a win at a crucial moment in the IPL. Their victory over Sunrisers have given Mumbai some much needed breathing space as well as big hope as they try to overcome their problems to qualify for the play-offs.
Indifferent batting, again
Mumbai’s batting disappointed their fans once again. Lendl Simmons gave them a great start but his immaturity was on display when he played across the line to a Dale Steyn delivery that shattered his stumps. While Parthiv Patel flattered to deceive, it was eventually up to the old firm of Keiron Pollard and skipper Rohit Sharma to bail them out of trouble once again.
Sharma’s coming down the order is what pundits of the game (including the greatest Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar) cannot understand. The Mumbai skipper oozes with talent and has the ability to play breathtaking knocks. More importantly, he has the knack of dictating terms to any attack on any kind of pitch with his ability and approach.
Mumbai’s fans must have been disappointed to see Unmukt Chand walking in at the fall of the first wicket. Chand, like other successful younger players have promised more than what they have delivered in their fledgling career so far. They have played fleeting innings, once in a while that give people great hopes but tend to struggle when it comes to crunch time.
Mumbai fans will be hoping to see the skipper up the order in their next game simply because he has the ability to set the tone for his team. At the position they are in, at this (crucial) point in time in the tournament, Rohit’s belligerence can give a big boost to his team and give his bowlers a total they can defend.
Malinga leads the charge
Chasing 157 runs on a good batting track at the Wankhede Stadium was well within the reach of the Sunrisers. Unfortunately for the Hyderabad side, the David Dhawan production did not click at the box office. Sunrisers have too much riding on the combination of their skipper David Warner and their Indian icon Shikhar Dhawan from a batting perspective. Their successes depend mainly on the duo, who are bound to have off days every once in a while.
Malinga’s four-wicket haul must have pleased the Mumbai team management, as must have Mitchell McClenaghan’s three wickets for 20 runs. With their bowling looking a bit more settled than in the previous matches, Mumbai’s main worry is its top order batting.
They have a big challenge in finding the right opening combination and though Patel has played a good supporting role, he is not the kind who will set the attacking tone much needed by the middle-order to exploit. Ponting and Sharma will be pondering over whether Chand should keep coming in one drop, and over the prospect of the skipper’s playing up the order, as he should be doing.
Rohit and Pollard should not be playing the roles of crisis managers, as they have been doing so far in the IPL, but the kind of roles that can write a script that dictates terms by coming up the order. With Malinga back in form, there is nothing that can stop Mumbai from stepping up the ladder.
Ponting, by now, must have realised what it takes to make his team click. He has until Friday to make his next move.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!