Champions League SRL | DP vs MI Evaluation Chart - Chris Lynn-Hardik Pandya partnership leaves Dhaka stunned

ByAakash Sivasubramaniam, SportsCafe Editor

05/12/2020

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Despite a crazy-start from the Mumbai openers, the middle-order could not capitalise on it and eventually needed a partnership between Chris Lynn and Hardik Pandya to propel them to 171/4. While Dhaka did give them a tough fight in the second innings, Mumbai, in the end, registered a 20-run win.

Match Review

Mumbai’s top-order were finally up and going after two straight blinks in the previous rounds of the SRL, with Rohit Sharma leading the charge. At one point, Mumbai were cruising at 57/1 before a mini-collapse in the middle-overs made it tough for them to propel themselves. However, in the end, thanks to the amazing partnership between the Australian Chris Lynn and Hardik Pandya, the Indian side finished the innings on a high. Eventually, Mumbai posted a total of 171 for the loss of four wickets.

The game was widely expected to be a one-sided battle, thanks to Mumbai’s firepower with both the bat and the ball. However, that is exactly where we all were wrong before the Dhaka innings. They started off quite well, scoring 47 runs in the powerplay overs, but they did lose the plot midway into the innings, where they had no answers to the questions posed by the Mumbai bowlers. And that collapse took the momentum away from the home side, leaving them with a huge mountain to climb towards the back end of their innings, which they failed to do so.

Turning Point

Hasan Mahmud’s last over and Dhaka’s last over in the first innings was arguably the turning point of the entire encounter. Until that point in the game, Mumbai were still edging towards a decent total, with no real fire at the end. However, that one over sparked not only their total but also lifted the spirits of the bowlers in the second innings. To concede 18 runs in the last over is a criminal in any T20 game, with this Champions League encounter being no different. That was arguably the difference between winning and losing.

Highs and Lows

Rohit Sharma’s back-to-form innings was a thing to savour. It has been a long-time coming, with the last two games going downhill for the right-handed Indian opener. However, as they say, his bad-patch or form only lasts for a handful of games. Today, the right-hander was at his very best at the top of the order for the Indian franchise. Not only did he put on a show, he also kicked-off the proceedings with a top-notch start, scoring 45 runs off just 23 deliveries, with four boundaries and three sixes.

Tamim Iqbal-Mominul Haque’s partnership let not only the home side down but also it put on a frowning face on all the people supporting the team. Several words can define what they actually put on - lacklustre, no-intent and no-show. In reality, it was all of the three and by the time they could kick-start anything in the innings, it was too little too late. The duo only put on 18 runs for the first-wicket partnership in a game where they were chasing 172 for a victory.

Rating Charts

Powerplay exploitation: Mumbai Indians 6/10 and Dhaka Platoons 4/10

FINALLY, the WAIT IS OVER, BOYS and GIRLS! Mumbai Indians openers finally put on a show and they did it today after back-to-back failures in the tournament. Right from the first over, the intent was clearly visible with Rohit hitting a six before turning the screws. Before the end of the third over, they were already 37/0, up and running. It just kept increasing every over and it ultimately ended in Mumbai scoring 57 for the loss of just one wicket at the end of the powerplay.

To be really honest, Dhaka did not disappoint too much early on in the innings, as they got off to a more-than-decent start. While Tamim did get out early on in the powerplay, Mominul and Anamul scored runs at a steady pace. Yes, they were not on pace with the Mumbai side but surely, they were right on pace, chasing the target as they scored 47 runs at the end of the powerplay mark.

Middle-overs manoeuvring: Mumbai Indians 6/10 and Dhaka Platoons 5/10

Just as the powerplay curtain was drawn, the gameplan was set by the Mumbai management, knowing only one way to approach the innings. While they did lose three wickets in the nine-over phase, they scored plenty of runs, which was at the end of the day more than enough to take them past the line. They scored 57 runs, adding to their already total of 57 at the end of the powerplay overs.

On the other hand, Dhaka struggled and struggled heavily in the middle-phase. They lost the same amount of wickets as Mumbai earlier in the innings, and they could only score 58 runs in the middle-phase. Despite it being a run more than what their opposition scored early on, in the context of the innings, it was nothing compared to their slow-start.

Death bowling: Mumbai Indians 6/10 and Dhaka Platoons 3/10

Generous enough, Mumbai did an alright job towards the end of the innings. The reason behind that being alright is the excellent stuff they managed to do throughout the innings until that point in the game. Their host of good bowlers - Rahul Chahar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah - conceded 46 runs for the loss of just two wickets.

This is really where Dhaka made it tough for themselves, with a very bad end to an otherwise good bowling performance. In just five overs, Mumbai went from 114/4 to 171/4, scoring 57 runs without the loss of any wicket. That really shows the difference between a good bowling unit and a really bad one towards the end.

Match Frenzy O Meter - Classic T20

The pattern was pretty much like a classic T20 game - good start for one, with the other just managing an average start. One team bowling to their best and the other succumbing to the pressure. While it did have some elements which were intriguing, more often than not, it was a one-sided contest, with Mumbai riding the first-innings total wave.