SRH vs MI: Mumbai wins battle for lowest IPL 2018 scores, bundled for 87 Chasing small target of 119, Mumbai Indians never looked comfortable against Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers in 22nd Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) match. SRH won by 31 runs as Kaul picked 3 wickets
Continuing their troubles since the start of the latest season of Indian Premier League (IPL 2018), Mumbai Indians on Tuesday lost fifth of the six matches they have played in the tournament so far. The 23rd match of IPL 2018, played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, saw Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defending the lowest total of the season against Mumbai Indians (MI), ascending to number 3 of the Vivo IPL Points table and pushing Mumbai to the 7th spot.
After being put to bat first, SRH set a target of 119 runs for Mumbai Indian (MI) but the hosts surrendered before SRH bowlers and were all out for just 87. SRH also managed to register their maiden victory at Wankhede Stadium as Mumbai lost 3 quick wickets, including that of captain Rohit Sharma, who failed to make any significant contribution to the team total. SRH bowlers Shakib Al Hasan and Rashid Khan were instrumental in restricting Mumbai batsmen and Siddharth Kaul provided a good hand, clinching 3 wickets.Rashid got the better of Pollard as the big man fell to a good delivery by the bowler and half the team was back in the pavilion. The sole good scorer for Mumbai today, Suryakumar Yadav fell in the 15th over at a score of 34 runs, giving a boost to the momentum created by SRH bowlers. Soon Mitchell McClenaghan and Mayank Markande followed him to the pavilion as Siddarth Kaul sent them back in the same over. Mumbai was under pressure as everything was going in favour of SRH bowlers. All eyes were on Pandya as he had a big responsibility to rescue his team today but he soon lost his wicket in the 18th over. Mumbai Indians had started their IPL 2018 campaign with three losses on the trot before a victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore, but the three-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, their fourth last-over setback, put them under tremendous pressure. With nine games left before the play-off stage, Mumbai Indians find themselves in a difficult situation, as they need to win at least seven of them to improve their chances. As such, a win over SRH in today’s match will be imperative for them to be able to stay in the hunt. MI's campaign has so far seen few bright spots, such as local player and opener Suryakumar Yadav, the team's most consisten batsman who is only four runs short of the 200 mark in IPL 2018. However, lack of runs from Rohit Sharma, barring the one match-winning knock of 94 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, has hurt the three-time champions and they need their inspirational captain to bounce back with a big knock against SRH. Another major disappointment for the team has been the big West Indian Kieron Pollard, who has put only 54 runs against his name in five games. He is in danger of being left out to warm the bench. His Trinidadian's compatriot Evin Lewis has not been a complete let-down, but his performance cannot be called outstanding, either. The Pandya brothers -- Hardik and Krunal -- have not sparkled with the bat. Mumbai Indians have so far not made too many changes to their playing eleven; they might seriously consider that before it is too late.Meanwhile, despite a threematch winning streak, Sunrisers Hyderabad find themselves in the lower half of the Vivo IPL points table, thanks to their successive defeats to Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings. While captain Kane Williamson has been in a superb form, carrying the team's batting on his shoulders, amassing 230 runs in five
games, the other batsmen, including opener Shikhar Dhawan, have not given him enough support. Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha has been particularly sub-par with a tally of just 62 runs and might have to soon make way for Shreevats Goswami. Among other batsmen, Yusuf Pathan showed glimpses of his old attacking self against Rajasthan with a quick 27-ball 45, but he still lacks consistency.
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