Having restricted Lucknow Super Giants to 168/6 in their 20 overs despite an unbeaten century by KL Rahul (103 not out) thanks to a lion-hearted effort by their bowlers, Mumbai Indians were fancying their chances in Match 37 of IPL 2022 on Sunday.
They had reached 49 for no loss in the seventh over with skipper Rohit Sharma looking in great form. Though Ishan Kishan had struggled to 8 runs off 20 deliveries before he got out, under-edging a shot onto the boot of wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock that sat up for Jason Holder to pocket a simple catch, and Dewald Brevis too was out cheaply, Mumbai Indians were still in the hunt with Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav at the crease.
After hitting Mohsin Khan, Dushmantha Chameera, Jason Holder, and Krunal Pandya for a boundary each, Rohit hammered Holder for a six and a four off successive deliveries.
He had a great chance of building on his innings just like Rahul had done earlier in the day.
Mumbai Indians were playing their first match at the Wankhede Stadium, their traditional home in IPL and with a vociferous crowd rooting for them and the dew setting in to trouble the Lucknow bowlers, the five-time champions were in a great position to go for their first win after seven successive defeats.
It all depended on Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who has already scored two half-centuries in IPL 2022 despite returning from an injury.
But things went haywire for Mumbai Indians as Rohit got out on 39 — a wild slog-sweep against Krunal Pandya, which managed to get a top edge that substitute K Gowtham pouched easily to trigger wild celebrations in the Lucknow Super Giants camp.
Suryakumar Yadav was out soon, trying to whip on a ball pitched at length on off-stump and angled across. He could only manage a leading edge and was taken by Rahul diving forward.
Though Tilak Varma and Kieron Polland stitched together a partnership of 57, the rising asking rate meant that Mumbai Indians eventually managed only 132/8 in 20 overs, losing the match by 36 runs.
The wickets of Rahul and Suryakumar eventually proved decisive.
