IPL '18: SRH bowlers stifle MI in low-scoring thriller

ANI  |  Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] 

A fine and disciplined display by the (SRH) helped them to eke out a 31-run win against Indians (MI) in a low-scoring thriller at the here on Tuesday.

SRH did not get the good start it needed and kept on losing wickets right from the beginning of the innings.

Only four batsmen - (29), (29), (16) and (14) - made double-digit scores as others fell like a pack of cards.

The 2016 champions could muster only 118 in 18.4 overs, which was the lowest total in this year's (IPL) season.

For MI, (2 for 22), (2 for 15) and Hardik Pandya (2 for 20) took two wickets apiece, while Mustafizur Rahman (1 for 18) and Jasprit Bumrah (1 for 25) scalped a wicket each.

Chasing 119, it was a cakewalk for They needed to win this game to remain in contention for the playoffs.

The SRH pacers bowled tight lines and did not allow the MI batsmen to breathe.

The defending champions struggled to play freely and very soon, they lost three wickets, including that of Rohit Sharma, within the first six overs.

Opener Suryakumar Yadav (34) and Krunal Pandya (24) then steadied ship and shared a crucial 40-run partnership to put back MI back into the game. It was widely expected that the duo would guide the three-time champions to an easy victory.

However, the downfall of MI began when Afghan spinner (2 for 11) trapped Krunal in the front, breaking the partnership.

Barring Yadav and Krunal, no batsman could muster a double-digit score in their run chase, as they slumped from 61 for 3 after 12 overs to 87 all out in 19 overs, losing their last seven wickets for just 26 runs.

Pacers Siddharth Kaul, the standout bowler (3 for 24) and (2 for 4) were even more impressive with the ball, as the duo helped SRH to stage a spectacular comeback while defending the second-lowest total ever in IPL.

The continuous falling of wickets, coupled with increasing dot-ball pressure and poor shot selections saw the defending champions succumb to their fifth loss of the season.

Rashid was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb performance.

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers (RCB) will now face Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the in Bengaluru on April 25.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, April 25 2018. 05:30 IST