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Suryakumar, Bumrah star in thrilling Mumbai Indians win

Published

2 years ago

2024/04/19

Priyan

MI resigned PBKS to another close defeat at their new home ground (BCCI)

Punjab Kings fell on the wrong side of a third straight final-over thriller at their home ground in Mullanpur with Mumbai Indians edging home to a nine-run win for their third victory of the season to keep pace with the other playoffs chasers. The visitors appeared to be cruising to victory for large portions of the game before a sensational knock from Ashutosh Sharma (61 off 28) rocked their boat sidewards. But another impressive bowling performance from Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 21) enabled the visitors to hold their nerves and clinch victory, thereby ensuring Suryakumar Yadav’s excellent 78 off 53 didn’t go in vain.

That this was not a belter of a wicket, especially in the first innings, is ascertained by the fact that out of Suryakumar Yadav’s 17 scores of 75 or more in T20 cricket, this knock was the only one scored at a strike-rate under 160. But he was typically quick off the blocks after MI were put into bat, hitting Kagiso Rabada for two fours after coming out to play in the third over of the game. MI got to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay with Suryakumar reaching 22 off 15 balls.

At the halfway point of the innings, he was one short of a half-century having played three of his signature shots in the process: a whip behind the wicket for six off Rabada, a swept-four off Harpreet Brar that beat short-fine leg and deep square leg and an inside-out six over extra cover off Liam Livingstone. At the other end, after making a fast start, Rohit Sharma was starved off strike and made only 29 off his 20 balls at the 10-over mark.

Sam Curran, continuing to lead in Shikhar Dhawan’s absence, was proactive with his bowling changes and did not allow the MI batters to line up any one member of his attack. The PBKS skipper dismissed Rohit, who faced only 13 balls in the seven overs leading into the 12th, by getting the India captain to hit to point after a 25-ball 36. Curran, Rabada and Hapreet Brar also bowled three boundary-less overs before Tilak Varma ended a 22-ball drought with back-to-back boundaries off Arshdeep Singh. Suryakumar added a four of his own to make it a 15-run over and inject momentum back into the innings.

MI scored 62 runs off the final five overs against an older ball that didn’t always come on at an expected pace off the wicket. Eighteen of those 62 runs came in Rabada’s fourth over – the 16th of the innings – denting the South African’s figures after he had given away just 25 from his first three. In that over, Suryakumar overturned an LBW decision against him and then proceeded to hit the pacer for a four over extra cover before flicking a full-toss over fine-leg for six. Tilak rounded that over with a pulled six over mid-wicket.

Once Curran dismissed Suryakumar in the 17th over, Tilak took over the baton to give the team a finishing kick. He finished unbeaten on an 18-ball 34 while Tim David added 14 off 7 balls including two fours and a six off Curran’s final over. Harshal Patel produced an impressive final over, dismissing David and Romario Shepherd with slower into-the-wicket balls. Only eight runs came from that over and even though MI fell short of the 200-mark, the 192 they got was more than any team had managed at Mullanpur and it showed.

PBKS made the decision to drop the under-performing Jonny Bairstow and bring in big-money recruit Rilee Rossouw into their XI. It was a move that didn’t work as Bumrah quickly set the cat among the pigeons in the second innings. Curran opted to bring himself up to open the order but saw his partner, Prabhsimran Singh, fall attempting a pull off Gerald Coetzee but only managed to glove the ball to the ‘keeper.

That brought Rossouw to the middle and he was a recipient of an inswinging yorker from Bumrah that laid waste to his stumps. Bumrah added another wicket, via DRS, when he had the PBKS skipper tickle a leg-stump ball to the ‘keeper. PBKS lost a fourth wicket in the 13th ball of the innings when Liam Livingstone’s attempted pull to a pacy delivery from Coetzee popped right back to the bowler. At the end of six overs, PBKS were 40/4 and effectively out of the contest.

All hope seemed lost when Ashutosh joined Shashank Singh in the 10th over with the scoreboard reading 77/6. The pair added 34 runs in 3.5 overs but even so, Mumbai Indians seemed one wicket away from sealing the deal. Bumrah, brought back for one of his overs in the middle, struck with a wicked slower ball first up that Shashank was too early into and lofted a simple catch to mid-wicket. Ashuthosh, though, wasn’t done and made his intentions clear with an audacious sweep off an attempted Bumrah yorker for a six.

Ashutosh hit seven sixes in all, five of them in the region between deep square leg and fine-leg, effortlessly maneuvering balls directed towards his body in that quadrant of the field. It forced MI’s bowlers into panic mode as they packed their legside but a full toss still allowed Ashutosh to put the ball away.

With five overs to go, Punjab needed 52 to win and then the 16th over sent down by Akash Madhwal turned the game on its head. His round the wicket angle to Ashutosh didn’t work as the batter made room and lofted a six over long off. That it was a no-ball allowed Ashutosh to take another risk off the ensuing free-hit and this time he pulled out the reverse-scoop over third man for another six. The over ended with Harpreet Brar pumping another six straight down the ground to make it a 24-run over. That brought the equation down to a very gettable 28 off 24.

MI’s chances distilled down to what Bumrah could do in his final over. PBKS didn’t need to take any risks against him and casually got away by taking just three runs off the master bowler. Hardik Pandya, now front-loading his best bowlers, then bowled Coetzee. The South African struck the biggest blow of the night when he had Ashutosh hitting to the deep mid-wicket fielder towards the longer side of the ground. Ashutosh’s dismissal for a 28-ball 61 turned the pendulum once more in MI’s direction as Coetzee’s over produced just two runs. Hardik brought himself on to bowl the 19th over and gave away just four runs from his first four balls and added the wicket off Brar, but then No.11 Kagiso Rabada walked out and pulled the first ball for six to give PBKS 12 to chase off the final over.

Unfortunately for PBKS, Rabada’s attempts to run two at the start of the final over turned fateful as an accurate throw from the deep caught him short and left PBKS on the wrong side of yet another close game.

Punjab Kings will host the Gujarat Titans on Sunday in their last game of the season at Mullanpur. Mumbai Indians have the weekend off before they head to Jaipur and take on the table-toppers Rajasthan Royals on Monday.

Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 192/7 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 78, Rohit Sharma 36; Harshal Patel 3-31) beat Punjab Kings 183 in 19.1 overs (Ashutosh Kumar 61, Shashank Singh 41; Jasprit Bumrah 3-21, Gerald Coetzee 3-32) by 9 runs.

(Cricbuzz)

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Related Topics:Indian Premier League 2024 IPL 2024 33rd Match IPL2024 MI Mullanpur Mumbai Indians PBKS Punjab Kings

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Fast bowling riches in focus as Bangladesh and Pakistan switch to Test mode

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/8

Priyan

Mushfiqur Rahim sealed a 2-0 series sweep the last time Bangladesh toured Pakistan [Cricinfo]

This series picks up from Bangladesh’s finest red-ball hour against arguably Pakistan’s bleakest one. Two years ago, Bangladesh came to Pakistan with six away Test wins in their history, and increased that tally by two in two weeks. Pakistan had never lost a Test to Bangladesh before that, but during late summer 2024 in Rawalpindi, a page turned in their cricketing relations.

This time around, the series takes place at an odd, off-kilter time. Neither side has played any Test cricket in six months, with Bangladesh’s last series a straightforward home wipeout of Ireland. Pakistan hosted South Africa in October, splitting the two Tests down the middle. This is the only red-ball international cricket Pakistan have played in 14 months.

Pakistan have filled that time going all in on T20 cricket, preparing for the recent T20 World Cup, before throwing themselves into a full PSL season. There will be just four days between the end of the PSL and the first day in Mirpur.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, have endured a more barren time. They refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup and that has meant their only international cricket all year was an ODI series against Pakistan and New Zealand’s visit for a white-ball series [ODIs and T20Is]. Wins in all three mean they have a perfect record in international series in 2026 – a record that Pakistan will hope to put to a sterner test than they managed two years ago.

In 2024, Bangladesh’s seam attack outshone Pakistan’s, with Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed’s movement, and Nahid Rana’s rapid pace, causing more trouble than their Pakistani counterparts. If anything, Rana is in even better form, cutting Pakistan down in the sides’ ODI series, before shining in the recent PSL final for Zalmi, for which the BCB granted him special permission. Bangladesh’s four-man pace attack also includes Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain, alongside Rana and Taskin, and could pose its own challenges against Pakistan.

Pakistan may hope the pitches allow a spin-bowling face-off instead. Soon after Bangladesh’s humbling of Pakistan in that 2024 series, Pakistan volte-faced from playing an all-seam attack in the first Test. Instead, their pitches assisted spin from ball one. To exploit that, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have run riot on accommodating surfaces. If Mirpur offers assistance for the spinners, Pakistan will feel confident they have the personnel to go toe-to-toe with the hosts.

Mushfique Rahim struck a century in his 100th Test, against Ireland in November last year. He will take fresh guard against Pakistan, despite speculation about his impending retirement. Mushfiqur has resisted being pushed towards the end unless he wants to. His 191 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi was a testament to his hunger for runs, as was his celebration during this milestone 100th Test against Ireland. Mushfiqur remains a vital cog in the Bangladesh middle-order. Pakistan will be wary of him, particularly in Dhaka.

Sajid Khan has found his international opportunities limited to home Tests, but this wasn’t always the case. His first six Test matches all took place away from home, with his finest away moment coming in Bangladesh, at this very ground in Mirpur. With rain laying waste to the best part of three days of that Test, Sajid wrenched the game from the clutches of the weather. He took eight wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings, to bowl them out for 87, and narrowly force a follow-on. Four more in the second innings saw Bangladesh bowled out on the fifth evening, giving Pakistan a sensational innings win. This series is perhaps Sajid’s best chance to demonstrate he remains useful outside Pakistan.

Bangladesh are likely to bring in Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana in place of Khaled Ahmed and Hasan Murad, respectively. Shoriful Islam’s white-ball form would put pressure on Ebadot Hossain’s place.

Pakistan have been dealt a blow with Babar Azam* ruled out of the opening Test due to a left knee injury. His absence leaves a hole which is likely to be filled in by a debutant. The visitors will likely go in with two spinners in Sajid and Noman, which leaves them a choice of two of four fast bowlers. With Imam-ul-Haq back in the side, Pakistan are expected to hand a debut to one of Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal at the top of the order.

Bangladesh (probable): Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal/Azan Awais, Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Amad Butt, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Khurram Shahzad/Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Iran says it attacked US Navy ships after they targeted Iranian tanker

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/8

Priyan

[pic Aljazeera]

The Iranian military has said it retaliated against United States Navy ships after US forces targeted an oil tanker in Iran’s territorial waters, a major escalation that puts further strain on the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters added on Thursday that the US also violated the ceasefire by carrying out air strikes on civilian areas, including Qeshm Island, “in cooperation with some regional countries”, without identifying them.

“The American aggressor, terrorist and bandit army, violating the ceasefire, targeted an Iranian oil tanker,” the statement said.

The statement also claimed that the Iranian response caused “significant damage” to US ships.

“The criminal and aggressor America and its supporting countries should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as powerfully as in the past, will give a crushing response to any aggression without the slightest hesitation,” the Iranian military said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Iranian forces used “various types of ballistic and antiship cruise missiles and destructive drones with high-explosive warheads” in response to the US violations of the truce.

But the Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US military said it “intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defence strikes”.

“No US assets were struck,” it said.

CENTCOM added that it “does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces”.

The clashes represent the first military Iranian response to the US blockade of the country’s ports. Over the past weeks, the US military has seized several Iranian vessels and ordered dozens more to turn around.

The naval siege has been the spearhead of Trump’s pressure campaign against Iran since the ceasefire came into effect last month.

Several Iranian state-affiliated news outlets reported that blasts were heard at the ports of Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and the southern coastal city of Minab.

Iran’s semiofficial news agency Tasnim also cited a senior source as saying that three US Navy destroyers came under Iranian fire and fled towards the Gulf of Oman.

The skirmishes come amid reports that Washington and Tehran are in advanced talks to end the war.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump ordered an operation to break Iran’s blockade on Hormuz, leading to heightened tensions that pushed the ceasefire to the brink.

On Monday, the US said it shot down seven small Iranian drones, and Iran renewed its drone and missile attacks against the United Arab Emirates.

[Aljazeera]

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Heat index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ in the Sabaragamuwa, Northern, North-central, North-western, Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the daytime

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/8

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 07 May 2026, valid for 08 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Northern, North-central, North-western, Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the daytime.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note: In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.