IPL 8 Match Preview – SRH vs MI: A winner-take-all contest

There’s a method in Hardik Pandya’s madness. He doesn’t try to be too innovative and plays high-percentage shots.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (lost to RCB)

What went Wrong: David Warner’s premature celebration cost them the match. With his side defending four off the last two balls, Warner, on the edge of the long-off boundary, appeared to have caught Virat Kohli. However, Warner took a step back to give a fist pump to celebrate and stepped on the rope in the process. Virat Kohli had a six and the match. However the match wouldn’t have gone down to the wire if it wasn’t for some inept bowling from Hyderabad. Sunrisers’ bowlers, save Moises Henriques, continued to feed length to Bangalore’s batters.

What went Right: Henriques. He batted with such aplomb in his 22-ball 57 that even Warner didn’t mind to play second fiddle. And the only over he bowled, he accounted for Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers in consecutive balls. His skipper might have erred in not giving him the final over.

Mumbai Indians (beat KKR)

What went right: There’s a method in Hardik Pandya’s madness. He doesn’t try to be too innovative and plays high-percentage shots. His 31-ball 61 was the reason why Mumbai Indians won the last game.

What went wrong: MI are not managing the middle-overs well, bowling-wise. J Suchith was ordinary. Kieron Pollard, who conceded only six runs in the final over, was once again under bowled.

Conclusion

The match is a a do-or-die contest for both teams with only the winner go to play-offs.

Source:: Indian Express