MI VS GT MATCH 57

Right then, that's all we have from this high-scoring encounter at the Wankhede Stadium. An easy victory by Mumbai against the reigning champions and table-toppers sees them consolidate their position in the top three. The action in the 16th edition of the Indian T20 League continues on Saturday, 13th May with a doubleheader. In the first game of the day, Hyderabad will lock horns against Lucknow at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium and that will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10.00 am GMT). The second game sees Delhi go up against Punjab at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and that match will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2.00 pm GMT). As always, you can join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Suryakumar Yadav is the Player of the Match for scoring his maiden Indian T20 League century as he scored 103 runs in 49 balls with a strike rate of 210.20! He says that when he gets runs, it is the most important for him that the team wins. Shares that they discussed in the team meeting to have the same intent they show while chasing 200-210 runs and that’s how they batted. Accepts that it can be considered one of his best innings. Informs that there was a lot of dew after 7-8 overs and knew what his shots were on the ground as one side was 75-80 m. Adds that he was prepared for two shots, one was scooping over the third man and the other was flicking it over square leg. Admits that he has played the shot over third man before so he backed himself to go for it. Ends by saying that lots of practice goes behind his shots and when he goes out to bat he has a clear midset to go express himself.

Rohit Sharma, the skipper of Mumbai says that it was an interesting game, especially from their point of view so he is happy to get the two points. Adds that it was pleasing to bat first and then defend the total. Mentions that they bowled really well in the first 15 overs where they kept picking wickets which are needed in this format. On Suryakumar Yadav, he says that he has confidence in him and mentions that the team wanted to keep the right-hand and left-hand combination but Suryakumar Yadav said that he wanted to go in. Feels that his confidence rubs on the others who bat with him. Shares that he does not sit on his laurels and starts fresh every game.

Time for the presentations...

Akash Madhwal is up for a chat. He says that he has bowled with dew before and wanted to execute the simple plans. Mentions that Rohit Sharma told him at the start that he should hit the hard length and keep it wicket-to-wicket which is what he did. Claims that Suryakumar Yadav is a brilliant batter and he does well in training but to see him out there in full flow is remarkable. Shares that he has been waiting for three years for this opportunity and practicing hard to perform well. Adds that his best performance is yet to come.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of Gujarat, says that it feels like only Rashid Khan turned up for them in this game. Goes on to say that full marks to him for the way he batted and bowled on this wicket. Feels that they do not have to try much and mentions that as a group they weren't there in all departments. Reckons that in the bowling they were very flat and did not execute the plans. On Suryakumar Yadav's innings, he says that people have spoken enough about him and he is one of the best batters going around. Also says that it is important to be clear as a bowler. Ends up saying that they lacked a lot of execution which cost them the game.

Time for some interviews...

Mumbai’s batting performance was top-notch as the openers got them off to a great start in the Powerplay. They scored 61 runs without losing a wicket but both were dismissed in the seventh over by Rashid Khan after getting off to decent starts. After that, it was a Suryakumar Yadav show as he notched his maiden Indian T20 League century scoring 103 in just 49 deliveries. Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers as well for Gujarat claiming four of the five wickets that fell and conceding just 30 runs but the rest of the bowlers proved to be far too expensive as they left themselves an uphill task to climb while chasing well over 200.

The hosts opted to use Akash Madhwal with the new ball in this game and were instantly rewarded as he claimed a wicket in his first over. His bowling partner Jason Behrendorff sent the Gujarat skipper back to the shed cheaply and another wicket from Akash inside the Powerplay had Gujarat behind in the game from the very start. Piyush Chawla rattled the stumps on his first delivery and when Kumar Kartikeya did the same in the next over, Gujarat looked down and out. When a partnership looked to be building, Akash was brought back into the attack and he got his side the breakthrough ending with three wickets, and the two spinners contributed with two each. They would have liked to wrap up the innings earlier though and will be still worried about their bowling in the death overs as they will be hoping to be more clinical in the playoffs as they will not want to only depend on their batters going forward.

Gujarat needed a good opening partnership if they were to get anywhere close to the score put up by Mumbai in their batting effort. That was not the case as they lost Wriddhiman Saha in the second over and Hardik Pandya was dismissed the following over looking to up the ante. Shubman Gill could not get going either and they were suddenly 26 for the loss of three wickets with their main three batters back in the shed. Vijay Shankar scored a quickfire 29 with six boundaries but was dismissed by a peach of a delivery. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia put on a 45-run partnership with the former scoring 41 runs but wickets fell in a flurry and they found themselves well behind the run chase. Rashid Khan provided some fireworks towards the end as he got them from 103 for 8 to 191 without losing any more wickets as he scored 79 runs in 32 deliveries but it never looked like the visitors could breach the target.

Rashid Khan has played a remarkable knock here but unfortunately for a losing cause! The five-time champions seem to have found their groove and are looking like a dangerous outfit! They have sent the reigning champions packing on home turf with a comfortable 27-run win though it should have been much more comprehensive as they move third on the table and build a useful gap over the chasing sides. They are now just two points away from Gujarat who are well-placed at the top of the table despite this loss and will want to fight for the top two places with wins in their remaining two games. Gujarat will hope that this is just a one-off game and they can return to winning ways as they approach the business end of the competition.

The streak continues. GT are yet to be bowled out in the IPL.

Bowls this full and outside the off pole. Rashid Khan carves this one towards Cameron Green at point where the ball drops just in front of him and it will be a dot ball to end the game. Mumbai win by 27 runs!

WIDE! Fires this one down leg side on a shortish length. Ishan Kishan does well to collect this as Rashid Khan leaves this one alone. The umpire calls this wide.

DROPPED! Goes full again and outside off, Rashid Khan shuffles and looks to go down the ground. Slices this one in the air towards long off where Chris Jordan sprints forward but fails to hang onto the ball.

SIX! High and handsome! Fuller and outside off, Rashid Khan gets down and thumps it over long on for his tenth maximum of the game.

SIX! Rashid Khan is putting on a show here! Bowls it full and on the stumps, Rashid Khan clears his front leg and swats it flat over deep mid-wicket for yet another maximum.

Bowls this short and outside off. Rashid Khan looks to cut but misses.