IPL 2018: Mayank Markande triggers dramatic collapse and other talking points as Sunrisers Hyderabad pip Mumbai Indians in nail-biter

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  • Hyderabad were made to sweat by young Markande in a modest chase.

    Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their perfect start to the IPL 2018 campaign as they made it two wins out of two with a last-ball, one-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians on Thursday.

    Playing their second-consecutive game on their home turf, Sunrisers’ bowlers once again came to the party as they restricted Mumbai Indians to 147-8 in their 20 overs. In reply, the hosts overcame a middle-order collapse before overcoming the visitors in a nail-biting finish.

    Here, we look at the key talking points from the clash at Hyderabad.

    ROHIT FAILS TO MAKE MOST OF REPRIEVE

    Mumbai Indians would have got off to the most-disastrous-start possible were it not for a huge reprieve from Deepak Hooda. Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma played three dot balls to start off the hosts’ innings but he launched Sandeep Sharma’s fourth delivery high in the air over mid-on where Hooda made good ground to get to the ball.

    The Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder however, failed to grasp on to the chance much to the relief of the home fans. Rohit’s joy though, was short lived as he flicked Aussie speedster Bill Stanlake straight into the hands of Shakib Al Hasan at square leg. Managing to score just 11 runs, it was a second-successive dismal outing for the skipper in the 2018 campaign after he perished for 15 in the tournament opener against Chennai Super Kings.

    SUNRISERS HYDERABAD HAVE BEST BOWLING ATTACK IN IPL

    When the squad lists took shape after the IPL auctions, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling attack was being touted as one of the best on paper. After their opening two matches, they are well on their way to crowning themselves as the best bowling attack in the tournament.

    They had restricted Rajasthan Royals to just 125-9 in the previous match to set up a comfortable victory for the side. On Thursday, despite missing the indisputable leader of their bowling attack in Bhuvneshwar Kumar through an injury, they made Mumbai’s highly fancied batting line-up look ordinary.

    With the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, Billy Stanlake and Siddharth Kaul all playing their parts to perfection, it is becoming difficult to look beyond the Sunrisers as the favourites for the title.

    RASHID KHAN COTNINUES TO LIGHT UP THE IPL

    Coming into the tournament, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was always going to be one to watch out for with his unquestionable credentials in T20 cricket. On Thursday, the teenager showed why he is so highly sought after as he put on an exhibition on how to master the art of T20 bowling.

    Rashid’s express pace leg-spin was almost impossible for the Mumbai batsmen to navigate as his subtle variations kept dumbfounding them. The Afghan man bowled 18 dot deliveries in his four-over spell which is the joint highest by any spinner in IPL history.

    Castling Ben Cutting’s stumps with a ripping googly, Rashid finished with excellent figures of 1-13 to give his side the upper hand.

    MARKANDE THROWS SPANNER IN THE WORKS IN HYDERABAD’S CHASE

    The home side were cruising in their chase of 148 with Shikhar Dhawan and Wriddhiman Saha going great guns at the top. Just when it looked like the hosts would run away with it, young Mayank Markande caused havoc with his leg-spin.

    Playing in only his second IPL match, the 20-year-old removed Saha first up after reviewing a turned-down leg-before appeal. He then had the ominous looking Dhawan caught at the boundary ropes before deceiving Manish Pandey with the flight to make it three wickets from as many overs. He made it four in four soon after as he had Shakib chopping on to his stumps as Mumbai came roaring back into the clash.

    His four strikes along with Mustafizur Rahman’s dismissal of Kane Williamson reduced the hosts to 107-5 from 62-0 to give the visitors a sniff of a chance in defending their paltry total.

    HYDERABAD COLLAPSE IN A HEAP AMIDST MOUNTING PRESSURE

    Despite a middle-order collapse, the hosts were still looking good for a win with Deepak Hooda and Yusuf Pathan both getting off to a good start. At 136-5 with only 12 runs more to win in 15 balls, Hyderabad would have been favourites on any given day.

    However, they lost the plot in 17th over with Pathan succumbing to Jasprit Bumrah’s short-ball. Rashid Khan joined Pathan in the dressing room in the very next delivery after being dismissed off a golden duck. There was more carnage to come in the 18th over as Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma both departing for ducks themselves to set up a roller-coaster of a final over.

    A massive six off Hooda’s bat in the first delivery of the final over helped Hyderabad regain the edge before they won it off the final delivery of the match but not before the packed home support had been given an almighty scare.

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