Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets (IPL)Mumbai Indians couldn’t afford to lose this game. Another slip and the defending champions would have been out of this year’s Indian Premier League. They came into the win-or-bust contest against Rajasthan Royals with 10 points and a net run rate of -0.45. After an eight-wicket win with 70 balls to spare, they are now on 12 points with a net run rate of -0.04. The message was clear – never write them off, ever. With MI now breathing down Kolkata Knight Riders’ neck, the top-four scrap between the two teams is going down to the wire.
Dominant display from @mipaltan! 💪 💪
The @ImRo45-led unit seal a comprehensive 8⃣-wicket win and registered their 6⃣th win of the #VIVOIPL. 👏 👏 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/0oo7ML9bp2 pic.twitter.com/psjBCAI90R
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Royals had their fate in their own hands. Two wins in their last two group league fixtures would have taken them into the Playoffs. But their chances all but evaporated after 90/9 in 20 overs, batting first. MI’s carpe diem spirit prevailed, while Royals got overawed by the occasion.
Coulter-Nile, Neesham star in win
The game started to change from the fourth over onwards, when Nathan Coulter-Nile came into the attack. For the first three overs, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Evin Lewis were in command. Jaiswal’s pull for a four off Trent Boult attested the youngster’s improvement against the short ball. In the next over, off-spinner Jayant Yadav was taken to the cleaners by the two Royals openers.
Nathan Coulter-Nile starred with the ball for @mipaltan and won the Man of the Match award. 👏 👏 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI pic.twitter.com/ngWPsn4l6m
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
4⃣ Overs
1⃣4⃣ Runs
4⃣ WicketsICYMI: Sit back & relive this excellent bowling display from @mipaltan speedster Nathan Coulter-Nile. 🔥 🔥 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI
Watch 🎥 🔽https://t.co/HS951OdCZX
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Rohit Sharma brought on Jasprit Bumrah early and the fast bowler started off with a half-volley. The MI skipper shed his calmness and berated Bumrah. His team virtually had no room for error.
Coulter-Nile came and straightway hit the six-metre (from the popping crease) Sharjah length. He made one skid off the surface; Jaiswal misjudged its length and went for a cut, only to nick it behind the stumps.
Lewis probably played one shot too many – an attempted slog on the leg-side to a Bumrah delivery from around the wicket. He was caught plumb in front. Neesham, in his first game of the tournament, bagged Sanju Samson off his first ball. The wobble delivery had extra bounce, which accounted for the Royals captain. The Kiwi all-rounder was impeccable with his line and length. The Sharjah pitch became difficult for stroke-play once the ball got a bit older and the bowlers got protection in the deep. Hitting a good length, however, was key and Neesham did it for fun.
Shivam Dube, Royals’ hero against Chennai Super Kings, stretched out to play a widish delivery from Neesham, dragging it on to the stumps in the process. Glenn Phillips was bowled between his legs off Coulter-Nile, the six-metre length yet again doing the trick. The Royals retreated. Between the sixth and 16th overs, they scored just 33 runs. Between the sixth and 20 overs, only a four and a six were struck.
WATCH: @JimmyNeesh‘s impressive outing with the ball 👌 👌
The @mipaltan all-rounder made his presence felt & picked 3⃣ wickets against #RR. 👍 👍 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI
🎥🔽https://t.co/U8o23CGiVu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Royals also kept losing wickets, eventually getting flattened by the MI seamers. Coulter-Nile returned with 4/14 from four overs, Neesham claimed 3/12 and Bumrah had 2/14.
Plan B
MI’s team selection was bold. A seam-bowling allrounder, Neesham, came in for a spin-allrounder, Krunal Pandya. In such a big game, the seasoned Quinton de Kock was dropped for Ishan Kishan. Batting has troubled the five-time champions this term. The safer option would have been to include an extra batsman. The MI team management added an extra pacer instead.
The adaptability of their quicks was one of the highlights of the game. When the ball didn’t move in the air, Coulter-Nile and company rolled their fingers over the seam. They quickly figured out the right length and optimum speed. It was a night when MI were spotless in their planning and execution.
“It was challenging with the bat. Everyone has got their own plans and way of going about things. But Powerplay is important. Coulter-Nile is outstanding. It wasn’t swinging tonight, but we saw how he has a Plan B with his cutters,” Neesham told the host broadcasters during the innings break.
A look at the Points Table after Match 51 of the #VIVOIPL 👇 #RRvMI pic.twitter.com/VwyvG4FKfP
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Champs stay afloat
MI had to win big. A paltry target of 91 made their job easier and Rohit showed intent from the outset. A 14-run over against Mustafizur Rahman gave MI’s innings the required momentum. Chetan Sakariya bowled a maiden at the other end, but Royals were woefully inconsistent. Under pressure, their quality slipped.
Samson missed an easy stumping of Rohit, with Shreyas Gopal being the unlucky bowler. Sakariya removed Rohit in the next over but welcomed Suryakumar Yadav with a full ball outside leg. A boundary ensued. Later, as MI inched closer to their victory target, Sakariya bowled back-to-back no-balls and got punished. Save Glenn Phillips’ electric fielding, Royals played poor cricket.
Kishan took a little bit of time to settle down before exploding. Three fours in a Kuldip Yadav over triggered an acceleration. He remained unbeaten on 50 off 25 balls on top of his three catches.
5⃣0⃣* Runs
2⃣5⃣ Balls
5⃣ Fours
3⃣ Sixes@ishankishan51 set the stage on fire 🔥 🔥 & hammered a sensational match-winning half-century. 💪 💪 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI @mipaltanWatch that stroke-filled display 🎥 🔽https://t.co/nrcD87jm1g
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
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