IPL 7 MI vs SRH, Highlights: Kieron Pollard 78 in vain, fifth straight loss for Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 15 runs. Follow all the highlights here: (Scorecard | Commentary | Points table | Schedule)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Man-of-the-Match: Swinging the ball is my strength. Steyn and I complement each other well and he has been guiding us really well. I kept my plans simple and tried to bowl my yorkers to Pollard. I have enjoyed my time in the UAE because the crowd has been amazing.

That's the end of this game. The IPL now moves to India. The next match is between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Ranchi on Friday.

 

Shikhar Dhawan, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain: There was a lot of pressure towards the end but our bowlers did well, especially Irfan towards the end. I thought I'd rather bowl Irfan in the last over and let my main bowlers (Steyn and Kumar) get me the wickets. The team is getting into the groove now. We will improve as we go on and get stronger.

 

Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians captain: It is frustrating because things are not falling into place. We started off well today, getting those early wickets. But we had to get a few more and SRH knew they had eight wickets in hand. We wanted to field first because we wanted to see the score and bat accordingly. We had batted first before but it was not working, so we wanted to try something different. We want to win all the games from hereon and see what we can do back home in India. Things are not falling in place but we got to stay united as a group.

 

23:43 IST: Sunrisers Hyderabad win by 15 runs. Chasing 173 to win their first game of the season, Mumbai Indians were rocked early with the loss of three wickets before Kieron Pollard (78) and Ambati Rayudu (35) got their side back in the game in dramatic style. Pollard found his fierce hitting form, blasting sixes at will. He was especially harsh on Amit Mishra, who went for 54 runs from his four overs. With this game, the UAE leg of IPL 7 is over and Mumbai Indians are the only team to finish without a win.

 

23:38 IST: WICKET! And it's the big one. Kieron Pollard has been dismissed by Irfan Pathan and MI are 153/7. He has turned it around for the Sunrisers here.

 

23:36 IST: Mumbai Indians are 153/6 after 19 and need 20 off the last over.

 

23:35 IST: FOUR! CM Gautam comes into the middle and hits Kumar for a boundary. What a performance this has been by the MI batsmen. 150 up for MI.

 

23:33 IST: WICKET! Spectacular last two overs from Steyn and Kumar, which built pressure back for MI. Harbhajan perishes to Kumar as MI reach 149/6 off 18.4 overs.

 

23:27 IST: WICKET! Steyn takes one here, gets rid of Tare but Pollard is still in the middle. MI 146/5 off 17.4 overs.

 

23:24 IST: Dale Steyn on for his last over. Can he swing the game for the Sunrisers here?

 

23:23 IST: End of the 17th over and MI are 142/4 - they need 31 from the last 3 overs.

 

23:20 IST: SIX! That's the third on trot from Pollard. He's on a roll. FOUR! More gentle from Pollard and the game is quickly going away from SRH here.

 

23: 19 IST: Mishra to Pollard with MI on 115/4 after 16 overs. SIX! Pollard hammers that into the crowd. Mumbai are in with a big chance. SIX! That's another one and Pollard wants to win it quickly. He is key to which way the game goes from here.

 

23:15 IST: Tare joins Pollard, who brings up his half-century after the timeout. MI: 11/4 off 15.4 overs.

 

23:12 IST: WICKET! Irfan gives SRH the breakthrough they needed - gets rid of Rayudu, who holds to Warner in the deep. MI 108/4 after 15.2 overs and it's a strategic timeout.

 

23:10 IST: Bowling change. Irfan Pathan in the attack. Crucial moment in the game.

 

23:07 IST: FOUR! Rayudu gives Kumar the charge and sends it smashing to the fence. The 100 comes up for MI in the 15th over.

 

23:06 IST: Kumar back into the attack after giving away just three from his first two overs for the wicket of Rohit Sharma.

 

23:04 IST: FOUR! Rayudu does not want to miss out here as MI collect 32 off the last two overs and reach 99/3 after the 14th.

 

23:03 IST: SIX! Pollard is on fire here- steps down the charge to Karn Sharma and clobbers it into next week.

 

23:00 IST: MI are 86/3 and need 87 to win from the remaining seven overs. With Pollard in the middle, MI could still be in with a chance.

 

22:58 IST: SIX! That was a gigantic hit from Pollard and Mishra is on the receiving end of some brute force. SIX! Pollard goes aerial again - he has the license to go all out now.

 

They want him back on the field but Sachin Tendulkar says he is enjoying his role of icon for Mumbai Indians in the dressing room. He has so far not wanted to put on his pads and get out in the middle, the legend said on air as MI sought to chase a stiff 173 against SRH.

22:49 IST: FOUR! Pollard pulls it away to the fence as MI reach 60/3 halfway through their innings. They now need 113 runs from the last 10 overs.

 

22:48 IST: FOUR! Rayudu moves towards the off-side to pick Sammy on the leg. Good shot. MI need many, many more of that.

 

22:46 IST: MI bring up their 50 in the 10th over. They need to now score at almost 12 an over from hereon against Steyn, Kumar, Mishra and Karn Sharma.

 

22:42 IST: Amit Mishra with the ball. Pollard on strike after the timeout.

 

22:39 IST: Just five of the over as MI reach 43/3 off 8 overs. It's strategic timeout.

 

22:37 IST: MI are 38/3 off seven overs as Karn Sharma comes into the attack for SRH>

 

22:30 IST: MI are 32/3 after the end of the powerplay.

 

22:28 IST: WICKET! Sammy changed his pace and kept it straight as Dunk misses the line and has his timber rattled for a 17-ball 20. MI are 31/3 off 5.3 overs.

 

22:26 IST: FOUR! Sammy into the attack and Dunk generates enormous power on that as the ball scorches the grass on its way to the fence. Sammy gets a taste of his own medicine here.

 

22:14 IST: Ben Dunk is in an aggressive mood here, despite the loss of early wickets. Mumbai Indians are 24/2 off 5 overs.

 

22:17 IST: Sachin Tendulkar says MI will need to bat smartly here tonight: It's not just about the boundaries and sixes but you also have to run the two's and three's well. The sound of the bat was the different today and that sends a very convincing message. It is a beautiful batting wicket." MI are 13/2 off four overs but the Master still feels his side can get 173 if they play smart cricket.

 

22:14 IST: WICKET! Steyn in business - that was a nasty one delivered to Corey Anderson, who edged it to Naman Ojha behind the stumps. MI 8/2 off 2.4 overs.

 

22:06 IST: WICKET! Bhuvneshwar Kumar castles Rohit Sharma. Perfect start for the Sunrisers as Mumbai Indians slip to 6/1 off 1.2 overs.

 

22:04 IST: FOUR! Short and wide from Steyn and Dunk cuts it away to the boundary. MI are 6/0 after the 1st over.

 

22:00 IST: Dale Steyn with the new ball for SRH. Ben Dunk and Rohit Sharma the openers for MI. Dunk is away with a single.

 

21:45 IST: Sunrisers Hyderabad are 172/5 off their 20 overs, thanks to David Warner's 51-ball 65 and a solid knock by Lokesh Rahul (46). The two added 111 runs for the third wicket after Zaheer Khan had picked up Shikhar Dhawan and Aaron Finch to reduce the Sunrisers to 38/2 after 5 overs. However, Rahul and Warner then joined forces and paced the innings beautifully despite a misery spell from Harbhajan Singh, who gave away only 16 from his four overs. Zaheer, whose first over went for 10 runs came back well and conceded 16 off his last three to finish with figures of 2/26 from his four overs.

21:37 IST: FOUR! Sammy goes again but finds an edge, which still sees the ball to the fence. WICKET! Sammy goes aerial again but this time holds out to Pollard in the deep. Second wicket for Anderson. SRH are 161/4 after 19 overs.

 

21:35: SIX! Sammy has arrived in the middle and joined the party straightaway. Wow, what a shot to play upfront.

 

21:33 IST: WICKET! Warner tries the switch hit but perishes this time. SRH are 149/3 off 18.2 overs.

 

21:32 IST: SIX! Anderson in the attack and Warner sends it soaring into the stands.

 

21:28 IST: More exchange with Warner. It's Zaheer Khan this time, who was seen wagging his finger at the stocky Australian southpaw, who put his own finger on the lips. Now they smile and make up.

 

21:26 IST: The 100-run stand between Warner and Rahul comes up in the 18th over. It has been a good knock by Rahul, who has played second fiddle to Warner and no doubt has learned a lot.

 

21:19 IST: Malinga back for his third over.

 

21:17 IST: SRH are 130/2 after 16 overs.

 

21:16 IST: SIX! Warner is letting them go. A huge hit off Pollard and SRH are on their way to a big total. A single follows as Warner brings up his half-century.

 

21:14 IST: Warner slams that straight to umpire Dharmasena, who takes it on the shoulder. Pollard bowled that over waist high and Dharmasena recovers after the ball and calls a no-ball.

 

21:10 IST: SIX! Warner hammers that into the night-sky. That was brute force from the Australian and Ojha can only watch as the ball flies 88 meters in the stands.

 

21:08 IST: Ojha starts a new spell with five wides down the leg side. 100 up for the Sunrisers.

 

21:07 IST: FOUR! Warner bludgeoned it straight past Pollard after a bit of an exchange between them - nothing verbal though. SRH 99/2 after 14 overs.

 

21:05 IST: FOUR! Rahul smashes that to the fence. It's time the Sunrisers upped the ante here - they have some wickets left but time is fast running out for them.

 

21:04 IST: Pollard with the ball after the timeout - Rahul on strike.

 

21:01 IST: Strategic timeout: SRH on 88/2 with seven overs left in their innings. Warner (27*) and Rahul (30*) have brought up their 50-run stand, so it's important that one of them stays till the end. Meanwhile, Harbhajan has bowled out with miserly figures of 0/16 off four overs.

 

20:52 IST: After Zaheer removed the SRH openers, another senior pro looking to make an India comeback, Harbhajan Singh has been impressive too. He gives away just 5 off this third over. SRH 76/2 after 11 overs.

 

20:45 IST: Pollard in the attack, with two well-set batsmen in the middle.

 

20:44 IST: Another good over from Harbhajan, gives away just two. SRH are 65/2 after the 9th.

 

20:42 IST: Harbhajan to continue as Warner faces up after the timeout.

 

20:39 IST: Eight overs gone and SRH are 63/2. Strategic timeout

 

20:37 IST: SIX! Warner clobbers that over the ropes, first signs of aggression from him.

 

20:37 IST: Ojha again and 50 up for SRH in the 8th over.

 

20:36 IST: Good first over from Harbhajan Singh - just four off it. SRH 48/1 off 7 overs.

 

Meanwhile, how Mumbai Indians would have loved to see this man batting for them again. Sachin Tendulkar was seen training before their game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

 

20:27 IST: Malinga back into the attack as David Warner walks in to join Rahul in the middle.

 

20:25 IST: WICKET! Zaheer has been expensive but he has got another one; removes Finch who has been caught by Ben Dunk. SRK 38/2 after 5 overs.

 

20:20 IST: FOUR! Rahul goes inside out. Brilliant shot against the guile of Rahul. SRH 31/1 off 4 overs.

 

20:19 IST: FOUR! Finch blasts that over cover; he is in one of his aggressive zones tonight. MI had better watch out.

 

20:18 IST: Bowling change. Ojha replaces Malinga.

 

20:17 IST: Lokesh Rahul walks in at number three, instead of David Warner.

 

20:15 IST: WICKET! Good comeback from Zaheer, as he gets Dhawan to nick one to Harbhajan Singh at first slip. SRH are 21/1 off 2.4 overs.

 

20:14 IST: FOUR! Zaheer pitched that far outside off and Dhawan slaps that to the fence.

 

20:11 IST: Good over from Malinga after an expensive first over Zaheer. Malinga gives away five as SRH move to 15/0 off 2 overs.

 

20:05 IST: FOUR! Finch hits Zaheer for a boundary in the first over. FOUR! Another one from Finch - that was just a poor line from Zaheer, straying down the leg side and all Finch needed to do was get some bat on it. SRH: 10/0 after the first over.

 

20:01 IST: Zaheer Khan with the new ball for MI. Dhawan and Finch opening for SRH.

 

19:49 IST: Here are the playing XIs:

 

Mumbai Indians: Ben Dunk, Aditya Tare, Rohit Sharma (Captain), Corey Anderson, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, CM Gautam (WK), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Lasith Malinga

 

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Aaron Finch, Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), David Warner, Lokesh Rahul, Darren Sammy, Naman Ojha (WK), Karn Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Dale Steyn, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

 

19:32 IST: Mumbai Indians have won the toss and decided to bowl. One change for Mumbai Indians: Ben Dunk comes in for Michael Hussey. Irfan Pathan and Naman Ojha in for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

 

Languishing at the bottom of the table, defending champions Mumbai Indians will be desperate to end their winless streak in their final match of the first leg of IPL in the UAE when they lock horns with another struggling outfit, Sunrisers Hyderabad, here on Wednesday. (Also read: Mumbai Indians' worst losing streak in the IPL)

This is Mumbai Indians' last chance to redeem themselves in the seventh edition of the cash-rich event before the action shifts to India.

Placed last in the eight-team league after losing all four of their matches so far, the title holders will not get a better chance of opening their account than taking on a lowly Sunrisers, who are just a shade better with only a win and three losses.

Mumbai batting has come a cropper till now. Despite some big names in their ranks, they have managed just a few fine knocks among them. The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Mike Hussey, Corey Anderson and Kieron Pollard have failed to fire in unison.

Ambati Rayadu has shown glimpses of his talent, but none were match-winning efforts.

Come Wednesday, Mumbai will need all these hard-hitting batsmen to contribute if they want to end their drought in the desert.

As far as the bowling is concerned, Indian veterans -- Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh -- will need to bring in all their experience to effect a turnaround.

Although mercurial speedster Lasith Malinga has been both economical as well as amongst wickets, he has fallen short of his ability to run through any batting line-up.

Mumbai will require their bowling spearhead to rise to the occasion.

Besides, the team will also expect Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan's spin partner, Anderson and Pollard to fire as an unit.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have seen just two batsmen, Aaron Finch and David Warner, making a mark so far in the tournament.

While the team will bank heavily on Finch and Warner yet again, it is high time that skipper and opener Shikhar Dhawan demonstrate his batting prowess.

The middle-order, with the likes of Lokesh Rahul, Y Venugopal Rao and Darren Sammy, also need to play key roles.

Their bowlers haven't done too badly till now.

Mumbai Indians bring in Lendl Simmons for Jalaj Saxena

 

West Indies' Lendl Simmons has been included in the Mumbai Indians' squad in place of Jalaj Saxena, according to organisers of the Indian Premier League. Although an official reason was not given, the inclusion of Simmons will add much-needed power to what has otherwise been a shoddy display from the defending champions so far.

"The IPL Event Technical Committee has approved Lendl Simmons as a replacement player for Jalaj Saxena for the remainder of the Pepsi IPL 2014 season. Simmons is eligible to play for Mumbai Indians with immediate effect," read a release from IPL.

Simmons has never played IPL so far but the 29-year-old has the experience of featuring in eight Tests, 58 ODIs and 30 Twenty20 internationals for the West Indies.