The Mumbai Indians (MI) clinched a thrilling victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, securing a seven-wicket triumph in Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Match 55. This match witnessed some standout performances, notably a blistering century by Suryakumar Yadav which steered MI to their fourth win of the season. His innings, coupled with crucial support from Tilak Varma, proved pivotal in the run-chase.
As per the prevailing trend in TATA IPL 2024, the Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bowl first, pitting themselves against a formidable SRH batting lineup. MI’s captain introduced Anshul Kamboj, a right-arm medium pacer, into their ranks while SRH recalled the experienced Mayank Agarwal to strengthen their batting order.
SRH’s innings began with an assertive approach from openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma who swiftly accumulated runs during the powerplay. The turning point came in the fifth over, bowled by debutant Anshul Kamboj, when Head struck a six off the second ball. Drama unfolded as Kamboj bowled Head, only for it to be declared a no-ball. Head capitalized on the free-hit and added two more boundaries. However, MI made a breakthrough with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Abhishek Sharma for 11 off 16 just before the powerplay concluded.
MI continued their momentum with Kamboj taking down Mayank Agarwal in the eighth over as the batsman was bowled, leaving SRH struggling to build partnerships. The opening pair had managed 56 runs, but subsequent partnerships failed to surpass the 50-run mark. Despite several batsmen getting off to promising starts, none could convert their innings into rewarding scores. The vital blow came when Travis Head, well set at 48, fell in the 12th over. SRH found themselves at a precarious position, 136 for eight by the 17th over, compelling them to deploy Sanvir Singh as the impact player.
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Pat Cummins played a crucial role in ensuring SRH reached a defendable total, scoring an aggressive 35 off 17 balls. His innings featured two sixes and two fours, of which the 37-run partnership for the last wicket significantly boosted SRH to 173. With figures of three for 31, MI’s skipper Hardik Pandya was their standout bowler, while Piyush Chawla also delivered with three for 33.
In response, MI’s run-chase began on a strong note with openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma scoring 26 inside two overs. Nevertheless, SRH quickly pegged MI back with Marco Jansen dismissing Ishan and a top-edged catch by the wicketkeeper off Rohit’s bat in the fourth over. Further setbacks came as Naman Dhir edged to first slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over, leaving MI in dire straits at 31 for three.
Suryakumar Yadav then took charge, demonstrating that aggressive play can turn the tide. He kick-started his innings with a drive for a four off Bhuvneshwar early on, finding able support in Tilak Varma who launched an onslaught against Pat Cummins in the sixth over. By the end of the powerplay, MI were 52 for three.
Even as the field spread, Suryakumar remained unfazed, smashing Marco Jansen for 22 runs in the seventh over, which included two sixes and two fours. From that point on, it was a masterclass in T20 batting as Suryakumar led the charge, handing no respite to the SRH bowlers. Tilak Varma played anchor, enabling Suryakumar to express himself freely.
On his way to a majestic century, Suryakumar reached his fifty in 30 balls, subsequently accelerating to his next fifty in merely 21 balls. The victory was sealed in style as he clubbed T Natarajan for a six in the 18th over to touch the century mark and conclude the match with 16 balls to spare.
MI’s triumph is largely attributed to Suryakumar’s outstanding century, which not only delighted the home crowd but also underscored his batting prowess in high-pressure run-chases.