Sharjah: Mumbai Indians exhibited their superiority on Sunday (October 4) as they recorded an magnificent 34-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League at Sharjah. It was an all-round performance by Mumbai as they bowled and batted their plans to excellence. Again the power-hitters of the squad stood up at the end to boost up Mumbai to a big score.
Quinton de Kock (67) shrugged off his poor form and capitalised on a reprieve provided by Manish Pandey to register his first fifty of the season. The dangerous middle order of Ishan Kishan (31), Kieron Pollard (25 not out) and Hardik Pandya (28) combined to hit seven sixes and just when it appeared like Mumbai would fall short of 200, Krunal Pandya came in and smacked two fours and two sixes off the four deliveries he faced to carry them to 208.
Quinton's anchoring 67 and Krunal's 4-ball 20* lift us to 208/5 at Sharjah 👏
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 4, 2020
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Ball-to-ball: https://t.co/CjbKYHWZEv#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #Dream11IPL #MIvSRH @QuinnyDeKock69 pic.twitter.com/Fwd0vfFy4A
After obtaining a win over SRH, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma said it is great to have three power hitters in the team. “It’s a great headache to have three power hitters towards the end but being in form is the most important thing. Krunal hasn’t batted much in the tournament but today he proved what a great opportunity it was, 20 runs off four balls and I thought towards the end it was important to get past 200.”
“The wicket looked good but it was slightly on the slower side so getting past 200 was a great effort. We didn’t have any total in mind. We back our bowlers to do the job. And that’s what they did. I definitely missed out, but again you try your best whenever you have the opportunity. Great effort from the boys to put those runs on the board,” Sharma said during the post-match presentation via hot broadcaster Star Sports.
“We decide the middle order depending on how the game is going. Match-ups, match situation etc. It is great to have three power hitters. Today Krunal also showed his value,” he further added.
Massive 20* runs 💙
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 4, 2020
Keep going, Sr. Pandya 😎 https://t.co/lMI3YUHHzW
Mumbai Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah, James Pattinson, and Trent Boult all took two wickets each in the match to take the team over the line.”You come with bowling plans. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but you have to bowl the best delivery at the time. I don’t try to impose my plans on them. I want them to give me their plan, and then I set the field. It is always nice to have bowlers who do that,” Sharma signed off.
