Mumbai Indians win thriller vs Gujarat Titans

Five-time champion Mumbai Indians registered a thrilling victory by 5 runs against table-topper Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 for their only 2nd win in 10 matches on Friday night.

Needing 178 runs to win, Gujarat Titans could managed 172 runs in allotted overs losing 5 wickets. Openers Wridhiman Saha and Subhman Gill put on 106 runs in 12 overs. Gill was first to go after scoring 52 runs off 36 balls while Saha (55 runs off 40 balls) returned in the same over bowled by spinner Murugan Ashwin. Sai Sudharsan (14) went back in the 16th over when the score was 138. Skipper Hardik Pandya (14) ran out in vital stage of the game. They runs from final over bowled by Daniel Sams. Rahul Tewatia went back in the third ball. David Miller failed to hit a six in the last ball which they needed. Leg spinner Rashid Khan bowled a fine spell in the middle overs, conceded only 24 runs in 4 overs to claim 2 wickets.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan gave Mumbai Indians a superb start but the five-time champions lost their way a bit before recovering thanks to a brilliant cameo by Tim David to post 177/6 in 20 overs.

Sharma struck 43 off 28 deliveries and Kishan 45 off 29 as both of them failed to complete their half-centuries and got out to soft dismissals after raising 74 runs for the opening wicket in quick time after table-toppers Gujarat Titans won the toss and asked them to bat first.

But from 74 for no loss, they soon slumped to 119/4 and looked like they would struggle to cross 150 before Thilak Varma and Tim David came together for a 37-run partnership that helped them recover to the position from which Tim David could land a few lusty blows in the last three overs to take them to a total they could fancy defending.

David remained unbeaten on 44 off 21 deliveries, hitting four superb sixes -- one off a free-hit following an above-the-waist no-ball by Lockie Ferguson that unfortunately resulted in the run out of Tilak Varma, Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya getting him with a superb direct hit. David ended the innings by smacking two sixes off the 20th over bowled by Mohammed Shami.

Gujarat Titans, who are looking for a win to seal their place in the playoffs, won the toss and elected to bowl and would be happy that they managed a score they can get easily.

However, at the start, it looked like Mumbai Indians would get a bit more runs on the board as Sharma and Kishan gave them a brilliant start.

With skipper Rohit Sharma getting off to a brisk start Mumbai Indians raced to 63 for no loss in the power-play, one of their best starts in the tournament coming when they are already out of contention. While Rohit was all aggressive and superb timing, his partner Ishan Kishan started cautiously and unleashed some fine shots after settling in.

Rohit Sharma started with a superb boundary, lofting a length delivery by Alzarri Joseph that goes one-bounce into the advertisement boards. The Mumbai Indians and India captain edged the next delivery past the slip for another four and followed that up with the first six of the match on the last ball of the over, launching the English pacer over the mid-wicket boundary.

Mumbai Indians sent Suryakumar Yadav (13, 10b, 6x1), their best batter so far this season, but Yadav did not last long, ballooning a simple catch to midwicket off Pradeep Sangwan.

Kieron Pollard (4) did not trouble the scorer for long and just when it looked like Mumbai were losing their way, Tilak Varma and Tim David came together to help them to a score they would fancy defending.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 177/6 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 45, Rohit Sharma 43, Tim David 44 not out, Tilak Varma 21; Rashid Khan 2/24) beat Gujarat Titans 172/5 in 20 overs (Wridhiman Saha 55, Subhman Gill 52, Rashid Khan 2/24).

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