SYNOPSIS: Hardik Pandya’s heroics go in vain as LSG overcome Mumbai Indians’ middle-order fight to pull off 12-run win.
Sometimes it doesn’t take too much to put even the elite T20 bats under immense pressure. In a game that seemed to slip away from Lucknow Super Giants, Tilak Varma’s retired-out sacrifice in the 19th over of a slog-fest ensured that Mumbai Indians’ vaunted batting order was feeling the heat enough to stir up a win after being put in to bat first. Indeed, it took Shardul Thakur to re-enter ‘Lord’ mode in the 49th over to stub the contest, pushing the 201-run target a little past even an imperious Hardik Pandya. In a sequence loaded with low full-tosses, the propers and one in the blockhole, Thakur’s unfailing accuracy prompted MI to even nervously retire Tilak out on 25 (off 23), strangely offering Hardik a depleted bat in Mitchell Santner at the other end before the final over.
Playing catch-up from the outset after openers Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks fell in the space of four deliveries within three overs, Naman Dhir and Suryakumar Yadav’s quick-fire partnership (69 of 35) helped MI catch up with LSG’s scoring rates midway through the innings. However, Suryakumar’s untimely dismissal in the 17th, trying to pull off an audacious swipe off seamer Avesh Khan from outside the off-stump, marked MI’s downward spiral with a victory in sight.
Breaking a Lucknow jinx
Mitchell Marsh was pranked twice at the Ekana on April Fools’ Day. His only two previous outings at the venue on the day, two years ago and earlier this week, had him trudging back bearing ducks. The 33-year-old’s first steps at the strip on Friday were watchfully curated, hanging put in the crease to drag Trent Boult across for two runs that offered relief and release at the home base of his new IPL franchise.
A crisp straight drive two balls later oozed abundant confidence, so much so that neither Boult nor his teammates picked up the faint under-edge as the ball jagged away past Marsh’s controlled reach.
Mitchell Marsh in action. (Agencies)
With black-soil strips gaining faith as the proposed nemesis for the MI juggernaut, Pandya’s lead seamers erred fractionally on fuller lengths in the Powerplay. That was enough room for the “Bison” and his headstrong impulses to kick in. Drilling and swiping down and across, Marsh hogged the strike off his opening partner and effortlessly tapped through the gears in the Powerplay. Aiden Markram watched on as Marsh broke away spectacularly in the sixth over. After lining up the duo before the stumps with a quiet opening conceding only three, Ashwani’s return began with a rasping straight-thump for six before Marsh collected 16 more to close the Powerplay. The skewed shares jotted a staggering 60 of 69 PP runs to Marsh, who effectively played out five overs.
But the LSG dip begins in the middle-overs. Marsh did not bother to test the extended square boundaries for the match with men on patrol, offering a leading edge to wrist-spinner Vignesh Puthur’s warm-up googly back to the bowler himself.
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Captains’ contrast
A recurring theme of all four outings now, Lucknow’s batting impetus beats a different rhythm when Marsh or the menacing Nicholas Pooran are around. Sensing his battle, captain Pandya stepped up with his characteristic, almost annoying short-length jabs that can be off-putting for batters who have built a routine of bashing truer balls on belters. The off-cutter hopping away worked like a charm as Pooran’s sloppy pull ballooned to the short fine-leg fielder.
With a power figure in Rohit Sharma missing due to the Impact Sub set-up or a supposed knee injury this time, Pandya’s rising unilateral figure at MI has demanded as much skill as tactical nous when on the field. While the all-rounder came to the fore, seizing a cleverly crafted maiden five-wicket haul – a first by an IPL skipper – on the might of his staple back-of-the-length off-cutters, Pandya’s counterpart had another forgettable night.
Rishabh Pant walking back after getting out. (Agencies)
In his four-match old LSG jersey, Rishabh Pant has walked into a rut that Pandya had found himself in upon return to MI last year. In his godsend moment to impress his captain, substitute Corbin Bosch hung on to a one-hander with a stunning waltz from mid-off, making Pant’s poke at Pandya’s pace-off delivery look all the more miserable.
The growing pattern will worry Pant and the LSG camp, with the southpaw losing shape, timing and muscle on four strokes that have plotted his dismissal around the turf in successive matches. With results blowing hot and cold (two wins and as many losses), Pant the batter will be desperate for a reset and hope his striking zones spring back before it’s too late, just like his team’s Friday rearguard.
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Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 203 for 8 (Marsh 60, Markram 53, Hardik 5-36) beat Mumbai Indians 191 for 5 (Suryakumar 67, Dhir 46, Rathi 1-21) by 12 runs
