Match Center

Right then, that is it from this high-scoring affair and Mumbai continue to climb up the table. The action in the Indian T20 League continues on Thursday, 4th May, as Hyderabad take on Kolkata at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Ishan Kishan is the Player of the Match for scoring 75 runs in 41 balls. He says that the wicket was good to bat on and while chasing this total he wanted to keep the momentum going so when the ball was there to hit, he wanted to make the most of it. Informs that the bowlers were bowling well and it was swinging but the keeper was not at the stumps so he thought of coming down the wicket and hitting straight. Mentions that he didn’t want to take the game late and play his shots early as it does not put pressure on the new batters. Claims that fitness is very important and the senior players have set a good example so he is working towards it but mentions that a lot depends on what he eats so credits his mom for that.

Rohit Sharma, the skipper of Mumbai, says that when the T20 cricket started 140-150-160 was a winning score and now it has gone much higher. Informs that this season the average score has been around 180 so they are sensing that if a team reaches 200 they can still chase that. Mentions that Suryakumar Yadav is doing what he has done for a couple of years and it is his strength playing behind the wickets. Adds that Ishan Kishan and SKY played crucial innings for them to help them register this win. Claims that before the start of the season, they spoke about how they wanted to play cricket and they decided that they want to be fearless. Goes on to say that they spoke about going out and expressing themselves which might not come off but this is the template they want to follow. About Ishan Kishan, he says that he is a little man but has a lot of power. Explains that he has been working hard off the field and it is showing on the ground now. Ends by talking about their bowling and admits that it is something they need to look at as they need more options in the middle overs and for 3 or 4 games they have conceded more than 200 so need to work on it.

Time for the presentations...

Suryakumar Yadav will share a few words as well. He says that he is really happy with the win but he felt that he should have finished the game but he got out like he did in the last game. Mentions that they knew that they needed to bat with intent and he just wanted to support Ishan Kishan who was batting well. Tells that he always prepares for the situation where one needs to score 14 or 13 runs in the over and what shots he can play. Adds that he does not think about targeting any bowler but adds that his job in this game was to support Ishan Kishan. Mentions that he does not have the power game and he tries to time the ball and find gaps so he is happy with the way he played. Ends by saying that he is really happy that the partnership with Kishan helped towards the winning cause.

Shikhar Dhawan the captain of Punjab says that they started off quite well and they thought it is a very good total but they could not defend it. Mentions that Rishi Dhawan bowled well but they gave away way too many runs from the other end. Added that they could not bowl tight lines and Ishan Kishan along with Suryakumar Yadav took the game away from them. Tells that it was a wicket where the change of pace was working and Nathan Ellis bowled well but other bowlers could not do the same. He informs that he did not use Harpreet Brar later because there was dew and he had to back his main bowlers but they could not deliver in this game.

Time for some interviews...

Punjab did not get off to the ideal start with the bat as they lost Prabhsimran Singh early but Matthew Short joined Shikhar Dhawan and began rebuilding the inning. Both batters got off to decent starts but could not make the most of it. Liam Livingstone got his first half-century of this campaign scoring 82 runs in 42 balls with Jitesh Sharma being stranded one short of his fifty off just 27 deliveries. Piyush Chawla was the pick of the bowlers claiming two wickets for 29 runs and Arshad Khan chipped in with a wicket but the rest of the bowlers went for plenty as they conceded well over 200 runs. Their batters came to their rescue and were able to exact revenge for the loss they suffered in the home fixture against this opposition.

Rohit Sharma had another outing to forget as he got out on a duck and Mumbai were off to a poor start. Cameron Green kept the tempo going as he looked to keep going but it was Ishan Kishan who looked to be hitting prime form. He scored a remarkable half-century accumulating 75 runs off 41 balls but will be disappointed that he was unable to get his team over the line. Suryakumar Yadav looked to be at his very best as he pounded the bowlers all around the ground getting to his fifty in just 23 deliveries but was dismissed on 66 as well. Tim David and Tilak Varma finished the job off with ease as they did not leave things to be done late giving Mumbai back-to-back wins. They will want to carry this momentum towards the business end of the competition as they hunt for their sixth title.

Mumbai absolutely nailed this chase! Their skipper mentioned at the toss that they play well with a target in sight and have the batting order to chase down anything! He has been proven right by his players as they have bossed this game chasing a mammoth target of 215 and winning by 6 wickets with 7 balls to spare. Punjab started strong with Rishi Dhawan conceding just 3 runs in his first two overs and dismissing the Mumbai captain cheaply. Nathan Ellis claimed two crucial wickets and Arshdeep Singh chipped in with one but they never looked like they were in a position to defend the massive score they put on the board. Mumbai have leapfrogged their opponents on the point table as they both sit on 10 points with the visitors having a better net run rate.

SIX! Tilak Varma has done it! What a brilliant chase from Mumbai! They have chased down the total with 7 balls to spare! Full delivery on off. Varma goes deep in his crease, clears his front leg and tonks it down the ground for a biggie. A 102-metre hit, this! Mumbai win by 6 wickets!

Couple of runs now! A full delivery on leg. Varma makes room and whips it to deep square leg. It looked like a single initially but Mumbai batters manage to steal a second run.

Dot ball! Varma makes room and Arshdeep follows him with a perfect yorker. Varma fails to get it away.

Bowls it short and on off. David pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! This could be it for Punjab! Now Mumbai need just 8 off 11 balls! A fullish delivery and outside off. David goes for a big heave across the line but gets an outside edge that goes over short third man for a boundary.

Single to end the over again and Mumbai need 12 from 12 balls now! Back of a length and outside off. David mistimes his pull shot to long off for a single.

Another single! Varma skips down the track and takes it on full to flick it to deep mid-wicket for a single.