Mumbai Indians brought to knees

MUMBAI, April 24

Sunrisers Hyderabad produced a stunning bowling performance under pressure as they defended a small total of 118 to beat holders Mumbai Indians by 31 runs in a low-scoring but engrossing IPL match.

Mumbai bowled out the visitors for a paltry 118 in 18.4 overs but then made a heavy weather of the modest target on a lively Wankhede track to be bowled out for the season's lowest total of 87.

The visitors' depleted bowling attack struck to their task brilliantly to bundle out the strong home team batting line-up in 18.5 overs as Mumbai slumped to their fifth defeat in six matches. This was the second lowest total defended in IPL history.

Suryakumar Yadav (34 in 38 balls) and Krunal Pandya (24 in 29 balls) were the only batsmen to prosper to some extent against the fired-up Sunrisers' attack sans Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake. Leg-spinner Rashid Khan bagged two wickets along with Basil Thampi while medium pacer Sidharth Kaul grabbed three. Sandeep Sharma, Mohammed Nabi and Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket apiece.

The victory, the fourth for Sunrisers, lifted them to the third spot on the table while MI remained rooted to their seventh spot with just two points from six games.

The modest run-chase saw the hosts lose the wickets of Evin Lewis (5), Ishan Kishan (0) and skipper Rohit Sharma (2) inside the Powerplay. Lewis was caught at gully off Sandeep Sharma while Kishan and Rohit fell to the off-break of Nabi and left-arm spin of Shakib, respectively.

Yadav, MI's most consistent batsman of the season, repaired the damage to some extent with Krunal Pandya, who hit a few sparkling drives for fours before being trapped leg before by leggie Rashid Khan, who also accounted for Kieron Pollard (9).

The departure of Pollard at 73/5 in the 13th over left MI with a tricky task which became more daunting when Yadav was caught in the deep while pulling Thampi after striking 4 fours in his 38-ball knock. MI needed 42 for victory at that time.

The rest of the Mumbai batsmen were not up to the task with Kaul grabbing three wickets as Sunrisers romped to a sensational win.

Earlier, Mumbai bowled and fielded with purpose to bowl out a depleted Sunrisers for 118. Captain Kane Williamson (29), Yusuf Pathan (29) were the main scorers for the Sunrisers. Mitchell McClenaghan, Hardik Pandya and Mayank Markhande picked up two wickets apiece to pack off the visitors for the season's lowest total. — PTI