IPL 2018: Mumbai Indians slump to lowest ever total in humbling loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad

Alex Broun 01:14 25/04/2018
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  • Sandeep Sharma took the first wicket of Evin Lewis to start the rot

    The Mumbai Indians had everything to play for at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday night. But they delivered nothing.

    On the great Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday, staring at a won one-loss four record this was time for the men in royal blue and shiny gold to stand up.

    But instead they melted away. Chasing the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s very gettable target of 119, Mumbai surrendered meekly being bowled out for 87.

    The Wankhede Stadium is located just off Marine Drive, in what is known as the Queen’s Necklace, one of the most beautiful parts of the capital of Maharashtra – but the home side’s performance was anything but.

    As the usually boisterous Indians’ fans sat watching in stunned silence their much vaunted batting line up, came and went with increasing regularity.

    Only two batsmen Suryakumar Yadav (34) and Krunal Pandya (24) reached double figures. Take away their combined total of 60 (including two extras) and the rest of the side only contributed 27 runs between them.

    It was Mumbai’s lowest ever total in an IPL match.

    Here are three things learned from the game:

    Bowlers get on top

    After the bat firmly dominating the ball in the opening weeks of the IPL, the bowlers have struck back in the last few days.

    Last night we had a low-scoring tussle in Delhi with Kings XI Punjab just edging out the Daredevils 8-143 to 8-139.

    Defending just 118 – their second-lowest total in IPL history – a depleted Sunrisers Hyderabad attack systematically dismantled Mumbai.

    The Sunrisers’ win was the second-lowest total successfully defended in the IPL, and only the third time all 20 wickets had fallen in the tournament’s 11-season history.

    The star for Hyderabad was Siddarth Kaul. The 27-year-old journeyman generated good pace for the Sunrisers and had Krunal ducking and weaving early.

    The right-arm pacer finished with three wickets for 23 runs from his four overs with 13 dots.

    He combined superbly with young Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan who took two wickets for just 11 runs from his four overs with 16 dots.

    Together the two Ks tore the heart out of the Indians batting line up – at one stage Hyderabad taking five wickets for eight runs off 27 balls.

    Mumbai their own worse enemies

    This was a chase that nine times out of ten Mumbai would have done at a canter.

    But their demise was part good tight bowling from Hyderabad and poor shot selection from Mumbai.

    Suryakumar Yadav was well set to play a loan hand and keep the Indians’ hopes alive and then threw it away with a completely needless swoosh off Basil Thampi down to deep square leg easily caught by Rashid Khan.

    Kieron Pollard was another example. The powerful West Indian was just getting into his stride with nine runs off six deliveries, including a massive straight six off Shakib Al Hasan.

    But then he chased a wide one off Khan, spooning a catch to Shikhar Dawan at first slip. Another completely needless dismissal at a crucial moment.

    Too late for Mumbai?

    It’s only six matches down with eight to play but Mumbai’s hopes of reaching the playoffs are looking like a lost cause.

    Last year eight wins were required to reach the final four and to reach that mark Mumbai would need to win all but one of their remaining matches.

    A tough task for any team but for a side down on confidence and form like the Indians it looks impossible.

    Yes they have been narrowly defeated four times in the final over but this game wasn’t close.

    When the pressure came on Hyderabad, who improved to four win from six games, rose to the challenge. Mumbai melted.

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