'Hitman' Returns: Rohit Sharma's 84 Steers MI Past LSG in Wankhede Thriller
A superb 143-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton took the Mumbai Indians (MI) to a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
MI are at the ninth spot with three wins and seven losses, while LSG are at the bottom with two wins and seven losses.
MI opted to bowl first and knocks from Nicholas Pooran (63 in 21 balls, with a four and eight sixes), Mitchell Marsh (44 in 25 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and Himmat Singh (40* in 31 balls, with two fours and two sixes) took LSG to 228/5.
However, a stand of 143 runs between Rickelton (83 in 32 balls, with six fours and eight sixes) and Rohit (84 in 44 balls, with six fours and seven sixes) helped MI make a light work of the chase and completed the chase in 18.4 overs.
During a run-chase of 229 runs, Ryan Rickelton got the chase going with two fours against Mohammed Shami in the first over.
Rickelton continued to take apart the LSG pace trio of Shami, Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav, as MI reached the fifty run mark in five overs, with the South African as the aggressor.
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The final over of the powerplay saw 'The Hitman', returning from an injury, joining the feast by smashing Avesh Khan for 21 runs, including two fours and sixes each, ending the powerplay with 71 runs on the board, with Rickelton (34*) and Rohit (36*) unbeaten.
The Rick-Ro pair continued to demolish pacers, with Rickelton reaching another fifty of the season in just 22 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes.
Rohit started the next over (the ninth one) by smashing M Siddharth for a six over wide long-on, reaching his second fifty of the season in 27 balls, with three fours and five sixes.
With Rickelton further collecting two sixes and a four, the over went for 23 runs. MI reached the 100-run mark in 8.1 overs.
At the end of 10 overs, MI was 127/0, with Rickelton (67*) and Rohit (58*) unbeaten.
In the 11th over, Rickelton took down Mohsin for a four and then two successive sixes, but the bowler had the last laugh, getting him caught by Josh Inglis for 32-ball 83, with six fours and eight sixes. MI was 143/1 in 10.5 overs.
The LSG's pace unit continued to leak runs as Rohit made merry against Shami and Avesh, but M Siddharth's spin got him caught by Shami for a 44-ball 84, with six fours and seven sixes. MI was 177/2 in 14 overs.
Siddharth removed Tilak Varma for a 13-ball 11, with MI reduced to 189/3 in 15.3 overs.
Naman Dhir and stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav joined forces at the crease, taking MI to the 200-run mark in 16.4 overs. However, Surya perished to Shami for a seven-ball 12. MI was 213/4 in 17.4 overs.
MI ended their run-chase successfully at 229/4 in 18 overs, with Naman (23*) and Will Jacks (10*) unbeaten.
What Did Naman Dhir Say About MI Finally Clicking Together as a Team?
"Yeah the things haven't gone our way, we haven't clicked together. I guess this is the best example that our bowling has clicked," said Naman Dhir after the match.
An explosive fifty from Nicholas Pooran and a late blitz from Himmat Singh and Aiden Markram cruised Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a massive 228/5 in 20 overs.
Pooran slammed a fluent 63 runs off 21, including 8 sixes, while Singh smashed 40 off 31 balls in the back end, along with Markram.
However, MI pulled back things in their favour a bit as they only conceded 22 runs in the final three overs.
(With inputs from ANI)