hammered over the cover boundary, MI win at a canter! Wadhera smokes this flat for six to bring up his half-century and send his team third in the table
RCB vs MI, 54th Match at Mumbai, IPL, May 09 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
MI won by 6 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)
11.12pm: Another day, another 200-run target gunned down at the IPL. It looked like RCB were light, after their innings spluttered at the death - but they might have struggled to defend 230, such was the ease with which MI went about the chase. Mumbai started slowly, as they always do, but this is their third successful 200-plus chase in four matches and they are storming into form at the right time. Stat alert, courtesy of Sampath Bandarupalli: with 21 balls to spare, this is the fastest a 200 target has ever been chased in the IPL
Faf du Plessis: [How much under par?] "I think at least 20, the context of the wickets so far this season, anything under 220 with MI's batting line-up. They are a strong side, they bat deep. We didn't capitalise on the last five overs [of our innings], so very disappointed. We had to play the bluff card, say 200's a great score. Take pace off with the ball. It was a bit slower than a normal Wankhede wicket. [SKY] He's ne of the best, when he gets going he's really difficult to bowl too. So many options you can't shut him down. [Siraj] He's been fantastic, the nature of T20 cricket is bowlers will be under pressure. Nature of the beast, long batting line-ups and guys are going to come out and play positively."
Nehal Wadhera: "It was fun batting up the order. Got an opportunity, got back-to-back fifties. Happy for that but more happy my team won. Wankhede is such a ground where 200, as you saw in the previous game, we can chase 200-plus. So we had that confidence, I had that within me that if I bat to the end I can finish the game. [SKY innings] Surya bhai is a top-quality player, I tried to copy some of his shots but I cannot. He was saying 'just keep playing, just keep playing and we'll finish the game early'. The previous game, I played a scoop, which I didn't used to play, so I learned from him."
Right, that will do us for tonight. Why not head over to Chelmsford and see if Ireland's World Cup qualification hopes remain in the balance? From myself and Shashank, it's good night. Ciao
dug in short, pace off and Wadhera can't connect with his pull
slower ball, dipping full toss on the stumps. Helped to long-on
Harshal to bowl, seven required for MI
length ball in the channel, Green steers calmly through the covers
Out walks Cameron Green, with Vyshak on a hat-trick
chipped straight to long-off! Vyshak takes two in two. Full outside off, pace off again and David picks out Maxwell running in for a simple catch. Drama? Probably not quite yet
Tim David is the new batter
The umpires signal for a strategic timeout, because we wouldn't want to miss one of those
slower ball, swung to leg... but it won't clear the man! Vyshak claims the wicket of SKY but not before the damage has been done. Couldn't get enough power on this one and it plops well inside the rope to be taken safely by Jadhav. SKY walks off, having made his highest IPL score, to a rousing ovation from the Wankhede faithful
"It's a shame that RCB did not score enough to allow SKY a century!" gurgles Shirish
another full toss, lifted into the second tier! SKY dances across and flips this high over deep backward square. Just like tossing pancakes
sliced up and over backward point, sits back and helicopters the ball up and over the man inside the ring
full toss, honked for six... and a free hit coming! SKY sees it like a beachball and splices a pull all the way over fine leg. This is slipping away - quite literally - from RCB
full length outside off, driven down the ground
Vyshak is back
Hasaranga picked up the openers in the powerplay, but has ended with grisly figures of 2 for 53 here tonight
flat outside off, maybe the googly, punched to long-on
hockey shot behind square on the leg side, Wadhera gets in on the act as he moves across and swipes four more
flat outside off, carved away to the cover sweeper
biggie! Launched over deep square leg! Plants the front foot and hammers a 90m slog-sweep into the stands
flighted, down leg and he sweeps again, this comes off the back of the bat, I think, and runs fine for a couple
slog-swept into the crowd, MI flags are waving! Stretches out and hoicks this up and over the man on the rope at deep backward square leg
Hasaranga again
dug in with pace off again, Wadhera pulls... and gets a cue-ender into no-man's land at mid-off
"Targeting NRR in 200 runs chase," gasps Nishom. "What has happen to the beautiful game."
slower delivery, plinked into the leg side for a single
full outside off, crunched to the cover sweeper for two - another fifty for SKY, tough start to the tournament but he's definitely back in form now
smoked down the ground! Picks the slower ball and launches it back over long-on, does a little hop after making connection. Brings up the MI 150, too
Over 17 • MI 200/4
MI won by 6 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)