Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma believes the target of 178 runs was chaseable against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday but they veered off the track in the second half of the run-chase after their five-run loss.
MI got off to a perfect start as Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma added 90 runs for the opening alliance but their middle order could not get the job done in the second half of the innings.
The in-form Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed cheaply for seven runs and it was a huge blow to the visitors. Tim David tried to add the finishing touches with a 19-ball 32 but the Australian didn’t find support from the other end.
With 11 runs to defend in the bank, Mohsin Khan, who was making a comeback after injury, bowled a superb last over and conceded only five runs to take his team to an emphatic win.
Ishan Kishan scored 59 runs from 39 balls whereas Rohit Sharma scored 37 from 25 but the MI’s middle order could not deliver the goods despite a solid start from the openers.
Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “We didn’t play well enough to win the game. There were little moments in the game that we didn’t win, unfortunately. We assessed the pitch really well and it was a good pitch to bat on and that score was definitely chaseable and we lost our way in the second half of the innings. We gave too many runs at the back end and the last three overs went for a few. But the way we started with the bat we were in a good position to chase, but like I said we lost our way in the second half.”
On the other hand, Marcus Stoinis did a terrific job for LSG in the first innings as the hard-hitting Australian scored a blistering knock of 89 runs from 47 balls to help his team post a par score of 177 runs.
Stoinis took 24 runs off the 18th over bowled by Chris Jordan and it proved to be the momentum shifting over. Rohit showered praise on Stoinis for his superb knock on a difficult pitch, which was gripping for the spinners.
Rohit added, “He (Stoinis) played really well, kept hitting straight which is what you need to do on a pitch like this. It was a brilliant knock from him. Not sure how the calculation (about the points and NRR) will work, but we need to come out and play some good cricket in our last game (against SRH).”
MI will play a must-win match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
