Putting his sluggish form behind, Rohit Sharma treated the Wankhede Stadium crowd to some great strokeplay on Monday while leading his side’s run-chase against Rising Pune Supergiant in the Indian Premier League match, which eventually ended in a three-run defeat for the team. (MI v RPS HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD)
The Mumbai Indians skipper, whose best effort coming into the game had been an unbeaten 40, smashed his first half-century of IPL-10. He completed the fifty off 33 balls with six fours and two sixes. He was dismissed for 58 by Jaydev Unadkat. (FULL IPL 2017 COVERAGE)
MI were chasing RPS’s total of 160/6, and finished on 157/8, but were looking on course for a successful chase mid-way through Rohit’s innings.
The MI skiper was in a different mood on Monday. When he gets his rhythm, he is the most devastating batsman in Twenty20 cricket. He had made his intentions clear with a pull off Dan Christian off the third ball he faced.
Pune Supergiant brought on Imran Tahir, trying to prey on his vulnerability against the leg-spinners. Rohit’s heart must have skipped a beat when Tahir fired in a googly to wrap the batsman on the pads. A vociferous appeal followed but the Wankhede Stadium crowd heaved a sigh of relief as the umpire’s finger stayed down.
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It was the only blemish in Rohit’s innings up until the last over. He stepped up the charge and targeted Tahir for special treatment, bringing up Mumbai Indians’ hundred with a four and a six.
The pacers and spinners were treated with equal disdain. Pacer Shardul Thakur tried to bounce him and the ball was deposited in the East Stand.
However, with MI needing 11 from the last three balls, Rohit failed to connect well from an Unadkat delivery, and was caught by the bowler himself.
Source: HindustanTimes