IPL 2018, MI vs RR: Hits and Misses

In a crucial encounter, Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and sent Mumbai Indians into bat first. Mumbai started really well with the openers Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis putting on a very good 87-run stand. But Jofra Archer took two wickets in two balls and brought Rajasthan Royals back in the game.

RR then picked up wickets at regular intervals as MI slipped from 87/0 to 131/5. It was Hardik Pandya who scored a 21-ball 36 and helped MI to get to 168 in their 20 overs. Archer and Ben Stokes were the standout bowlers for the visitors as they took two wickets apiece and played a key role in restricting MI to an under-par total.

Chasing around 8.5 runs per over, RR lost D’Arcy Short early. But Jos Buttler was once again brilliant and this time he had Ajinkya Rahane (who scored a run-a-ball 37) for company. The duo shared a 95-run stand and it put RR on course for a successful run-chase. Sanju Samson came in and scored a 14-ball 26 as along with Buttler, he helped RR finish the chase with two overs to spare. Buttler was once again superb as he made an unbeaten 94 to guide RR to their 6th win of the season.

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#5 Hit: Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer was brilliant as he had figures of 2/16 in his four overs.

Jofra Archer is one of the main reasons for Rajasthan Royals’ good show in the last few games. Archer has been the most consistent bowler for RR in this tournament.

In this game, he came onto bowl in the 3rd over and he conceded just 5 runs. But it was his second over which turned the game on its head. MI had a very good first ten overs as Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis were going very well. But Archer came in and picked up two wickets in successive balls to derail MI’s innings. He bounced Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Rohit Sharma out.

Both batsmen tried to pull and could only managed a top-edge and were out caught at fine-leg. While Suryakumar departed after a well-made 38, Rohit was out for a golden duck as his inconsistent form continued. Archer then bowled a couple of very good overs at the death conceding just 9 runs in his last two overs to cap off an excellent day.

#4 Miss: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma fell trying to play a pull shot off his first delivery.

Rohit Sharma has had an underwhelming season so far. Before today’s game, he was also MI’s second highest run-getter but he has been in scratchy form. He’s had two 50+ scores and both have resulted in wins and that shows how much MI depend on their skipper.

Rohit Sharma walked out to bat at No. 3 after Mumbai had got a good start as Evin Lewis and Suryakumar Yadav shared an excellent 87-run stand. But the MI skipper was bounced out the first ball he faced. Jofra Archer went for the bouncer and Rohit pulled it and was not in control of it and hence, ended up getting caught at fine-leg.

It was Rohit’s third golden duck as his patchy season continued. He also didn't have a great time on the field as none of his changes worked and was also poor with the review he took against Ajinkya Rahane. Thus, it was a game to forget for Rohit Sharma.

#3 Hit: Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis was MI's top-scorer in this game.

Evin Lewis has been in scratchy form this season. He hasn’t quite hit his straps and hasn’t been able to give MI the starts they were expecting. However, the West Indian opener did well in this game as he was one of the few MI batsmen who put his hand up and got a substantial score.

Lewis started his innings with a bang as he struck a beautifully timed boundary. But he was a touch watchful at the start but really opened his shoulders once he got his eye in. After the first five overs, Lewis was batting on 14 off 13 balls but he slowly shifted gears once he assessed the conditions.

The 27-year-old opener struck a very good 60 (off 42 balls) and gave MI a very good start.

#2 Miss: D’Arcy Short

It was another game to forget for S'Arcy Short as he could only make 4 in this game.

D’Arcy Short has had a poor run in his debut season. He’s struggled every time he’s got an opportunity and apart from one innings (where he scored 44 off 25), the 27-year-old Aussie opener barely scored managed to score run-a-ball in the other games.

After getting run out in the first two games, Short was out to spinners in all the other innings before this game. He was also in and out of the team as neither the team nor his performances were up to the mark.

However, on what seemed like a true Wankhede pitch, Short was given a chance ahead of impressive leggie Ish Sodhi. However, the Hobart Hurricanes opener who was the top-scorer in the Big Bash this year wasted another opportunity as he could only manage 4. He fell in the first over of the chase as he edged one to the wicket-keeper off Jasprit Bumrah.

It was the first time Short was dismissed by a pacer this season but his torrid season just continued.

#1 Hit: Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler struck his fifth consecutive half-century and took RR home with another unbeaten match-winning knock.

After scoring yet another match-winning knock, Jos Buttler equalled Virender Sehwag’s feat of scoring 5 fifties in a row which is the joint highest in IPL cricket. The England wicket-keeper batsman has been simply magnificent in the last five games. He has scored five consecutive fifties and has been one of the main reasons for RR’s late resurgence.

In the last game, he scored an unbeaten 95 against CSK to take the team home in a tense run-chase. In this game, it was once again a similar effort. But the 27-year-old stumper started off slowly in this game. In his first seven deliveries, he scored just 4 before launching Krunal Pandya for a four and a six to get going. Since then it was once again the Jos Buttler show.

He reached his half-century in 35 balls and then batted through and saw RR home. He scored a magnificent 94 and once again proved to be the difference between the two sides.