IPL 2022: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s three-run win keeps hopes of slim play-off alive

Rahul Tripathi batted like a man before Umran Malik jumped at his pace as Sunrisers Hyderabad kept their hopes of a slim IPL play-off alive with a three-run win over Mumbai Indians here on Tuesday.

Tripathi scored 76 off 44 balls to take Sunrisers Hyderabad to a challenging 193 for six. He was aptly complemented by Priyam Gorg (42) and Nicholas Puran (38).

Malik (3/23 in three overs) then made a sensational performance, where veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/26 off 4 balls) bowled a maiden Maiden in the crucial 19th over to stop MI for 190 for seven despite Rohit Sharma’s best efforts. (48), Ishan Kishan (43) and Tim David (46).

The win puts SRH in the playoff race on paper as they go up to 12 points. They have to win the last game and go their separate ways.

Chasing 194, Rohit was at his best effortlessly and ready for the big score. He made a solid start to the Mumbai chase with Kishan, with whom he shared the opening stand of 95 runs.

The duo plundered 17 runs in the ninth over bowled by Malik, where the pacer was guilty of bowling two no balls and one wide.

But two overs later, Ken Williamson’s decision to bowl Washington Sundar (1/36) paid dividends as Rohit deeply dismissed Jagadisha Suchith.

Kisan looks uncomfortable against Malik’s short ball, following his captain in the next over as the Jammu pacer, whose first over was terrible, outscored himself. He throws the ball to the stumps from round the wicket to complete a great catch at mid on for Priyam Gorge.

The pair added another success as the owner bowled another bouncer, forcing Daniel Sams to pull. To complete a great catch at midwicket, Garg fully extended his arm and jumped over his head.

With 44 off 18 balls needed, big hitter David has scored 46 off just 18 balls to keep Mumbai hoping for their fourth win of the season.

David T Natarajan hit four sixes in the 18th over, including a gigantic 114m hit, to bring the equation down to 12-19. However, Natarajan (0/60) was able to save himself in the last ball as David was run out. .

Experienced Bhubaneswar bowled a wicket maiden in the 19th over to turn the game in SRH’s favor.

Earlier, Tripathi, who hit his third half-century of the season with nine fours and three sixes, set himself up for a memorable knock.

Gorg repaid the Sunrisers’ gambling order by inviting him to bat. The 21-year-old played a great knock as he shared an eight-run stand with Tripathi after returning Abhishek Sharma (9) who was in form in the third over.

Gorg, who was dismissed for 10, made good use of his reprieve as he hit the ball four times in his 26-ball innings and twice in the over.

At the other end, Tripathi looked at his material. He hit Jaspreet Bumrah (1/32) in the fifth over with a six and a back-to-back four.

Tripathi and Gorg collected 57 in a productive powerplay and maintained a healthy run rate while batting responsibly which was close to 10 runs per over.

After being caught and bowled by medium pacer Ramandeep Singh (3/20), Gorge joined the old team which was promoted to No. 3.

In the 13th over, Riley Meredith (1/44) hit two sixes in a row on Long On and Deep Backward Square to hit the boundary and hit the maximum in the next over.

MI bowlers led by Ramandeep were able to make a small comeback as they got rid of Puran, Tripathi and Aiden Markram (2) with eight balls to spare.

Batting below the order, captain Ken Williamson’s (unbeaten 7) fight continued because he could not take a big shot.

The Sunrisers, who were looking for a 200-plus score, could only manage one boundary in the last two overs, giving up 19 runs.