Stanlake’s Last-Ball 4 Helps Sunrisers Defeat Mumbai in a Thriller
From 15 runs needed off 18 balls to 1 required off the last delivery, Mumbai made sure SRH’s win wasn’t a cakewalk.
With 15 runs required off the last three overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad seemed to be well-placed in their run chase at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday, 12 April. However, Mumbai Indians' Mustafizur Rahman and Jasprit Bumrah made sure it was not a cakewalk for the hosts.
Mumbai pacer Bumrah dismissed Yusuf Pathan and Rashid Khan off consecutive deliveries in the 18th over, while Mustafizur Rahman removed Siddarth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma in the next over. Both the bowlers gave away just four runs in those 12 balls, which left Sunrisers needing 11 runs off the last 6 balls.
Former Sunrisers cricketer Ben Cutting was handed the ball for the final over. A six off Deepak Hooda’s bat left SRH needing 5 off the last 5 deliveries. A wide, a dot and three singles later, it was 23-year-old Billy Stanlake on strike and SRH need one run off the last ball.
The 6’8 Aussie cricketer then lofted the final delivery to the midwicket fence, handing Sunrisers Hyderabad a 1-wicket win over Mumbai, and also their second straight one in IPL 2018.
This Indian Premier League match in Hyderabad also marked Mumbai Indian’s second consecutive loss in as many games this IPL season.
Mumbai Indians’ Innings
Earlier in the evening, Sunrisers Hyderabad's bowlers once again put up a stellar show restricting a star-studded Mumbai Indians to 147 for 8 .
The much-vaunted MI batting line-up flattered to deceive as the likes of Evin Lewis (29), Suryakumar Yadav (28) and Kieron Pollard (28) got out after getting set which put brakes on their scoring rate.
The lower middle-order caved in badly as Sunrisers looked as potent an attack even without their premier India bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Such was the dominance of the Hyderabad bowlers that the back 10 of the MI innings fetched them only 69 runs with only 36 coming off last five overs.
Sandeep Sharma (2/25 in 4 overs) proved to be a like-for like replacement with his incisive swing bowling while Siddarth Kaul (2/29 in 4 overs) was once again impressive.
Rashid Khan stifled the scoring during the middle overs with brilliant figures of 1 for 13 in 4 overs. He bowled as many as 18 dot balls.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (11) was out trying to whip a delivery from Billy Stanlake (2/42) that grew big on him and the catch was taken at square leg by Shakib Al Hasan.
Ishan (9)'s maverick approach didn't pay dividends as he failed to make most of a dropped catch by Sandeep Sharma as Siddharth Kaul had him caught at third man.
The normally dangerous Evin Lewis (29, 17 balls) started off well but tried to hit Kaul across the line only to find the off-stump knocked back.
The normally dependable Krunal Pandya closed his face to a Shakib Al Hasan (1/34 in 4 overs) delivery to offer a simple catch.
Stanlake hurried Pollard into ballooning one to Shikhar Dhawan at sweeper cover.
Sandeep then dismissed Suryakumar and Pradeep Sangwan off successive balls to ensure that MI don't cross the 150-run mark.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Innings
Chasing a modest target of 148, Hyderabad were cruising along at 73 for 1 before an inexplicable batting collapse left them staring at defeat. It was young Deepak Hooda composed 32 off 25 balls that proved to be precious in the final context of the match. Hooda hit Cutting's first delivery off the final over for a six to ease off the pressure with Stanlake holding fort at the other end.
It was young leg-spinner Mayank Markande (4/23 in 4 overs) once again impressed one and all with his temperament and control as his spell got Mumbai Indians back in the match despite a modest total on board.
Shikhar Dhawan (45 off 28 balls) and Wriddhiman Saha (22 off 20) made it look like a walk in the park before Markande wreaked havoc. He first ball his stock ball googly to trap Saha leg before.
Skipper Kane Williamson (6) edged one off Mustafizur Rahaman to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.
From a comfortable 73 for 1, Markande engineered a slide that found Sunrisers reeling at 107 for five. Dhawan went trying to hit a slog sweep to a delivery that bounced a tad more. Manish Pandey danced down the track and mistimed his lofted shot while Shakib Al Hasan was played on off the last ball of his spell. Markande currently holds the 'Purple cap' with seven wickets from two games.
However young Hooda and the seasoned Yusuf Pathan (14) added 29 runs to bring their team closer to victory. But Mustafzur Rahaman brought them back in contention with a brilliant 19th over that cost MI only a run leaving Hyderabad 11 to win off final over. Thanks to Hooda and Stanlake, they achieved it.
(With inputs from PTI)
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