MI vs GT Match Report: Suryakumar Yadav’s century laid the foundation for Mumbai Indians’ victory.Image Credit source: BCCI
Mumbai: After nine years, a Mumbai Indians batsman scored a century in IPL and this century brought a resounding victory for Mumbai. Suryakumar Yadav’s first IPL century helped Mumbai Indians beat table toppers Gujarat Titans by 27 runs at the Wankhede Stadium. Apart from Suryakumar’s century, Mumbai registered this big win over Gujarat on the basis of Akash Madhwal’s bowling. With this, Mumbai returned to third place, registering their seventh win this season.
Mumbai Indians, who successfully chased down the target of 200 consecutive runs in the last few matches at the Wankhede Stadium, once again crossed the 200 mark. Just this time the team itself batted first and scored 218 runs. Seeing the rain of runs in Wankhede, Gujarat was also expected to hit hard, but Mumbai bowlers destroyed Gujarat’s top order.
The wonder of Mumbai’s bowling
Jasprit Bumrah may not be there, Joffra Archer may have returned without much contribution, but Mumbai made up for his absence by young bowler Akash Madhwal and experienced Australian pacer Jason Behrendorff. By the fourth over itself, both together, Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Captain Hardik Pandya returned to the pavilion.
Vijay Shankar scored some quick runs, but Piyush Chawla bowled him on the very first ball. In the very next over, Abhinav Manohar was bowled by Kumar Kartikeya. Overall, 5 wickets fell for just 55 runs in 7.1 overs.
From here David Miller raised some hope for Gujarat and scored a quick 41 runs. But Akash Madhwal dismissed him in the 12th over and Gujarat’s hopes were shattered. By the 14th over, Gujarat’s score was 8 wickets for 103 runs. Defeat was certain. Despite this, Rashid Khan did not give up. The veteran Afghan all-rounder from Gujarat played a surprising innings and scored his first half-century in just 21 balls and reduced the margin of defeat by hitting 79 runs (not out) in just 32 balls with the help of 10 sixes, 3 fours.
So far this season, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma, who has been failing continuously, had the most eyes. Once again he could not play a big innings but the kind of start he got together with Ishan Kishan laid the foundation for Mumbai’s big score. Both scored 61 runs in the powerplay. In the seventh over, Rashid made both his victims.