IPL 2018: Match 47, MI vs RR- Rating of the Match

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a couple of impressive matches while chasing a target; the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has favoured the team batting second- probably the reasons why Ajinkya Rahane elected to field first in their match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic venue. They were up against a side who oozed confidence following three consecutive victories.

Mumbai, a couple of weeks ago languished at the bottom of the table and were physically and psychologically shattered to the core. The equations have turned in their favour and they were among the strong contenders to qualify for the top-four. Meanwhile, both teams desperately needed a win to help them make amends to their horrendous run.

Jofra Archer- The speed breaker

After being put in to bat, Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis didn’t go hell for leather. Rather, they played calculative strokes and yet scored 87 runs at a run-rate of more than eight in the first eleven overs. The home team was set to notch a formidable total on the board. The Royals, on the other hand, needed someone to put his hand up and stem the run-flow of the home team.

Jofra Archer hasn’t played half of RR’s matches and yet he is the leading wicket-taker for them with 13 wickets. The numbers are four more than that of Jaydev Unadkat who has nine wickets from 12 matches. He is renowned for his sheer pace and he brought forth exactly the same and scalped Suryakumar Yadav, who threatened to help Mumbai post a formidable score on the board.

Archer dug in a bouncer, which got big on Surya and he was late on the pull. Hence, the ball hit the splice of the bat and ballooned up in the air after which Unadkat grasped a stunning low-catch, inches above the ground. Rohit Sharma– the batsman’s form went from worse to worst as he pulled the ball down the throat of the same fielder. Meanwhile, Jofra notched his second wicket and conceded 16 runs with 14 dot-balls.

Prior to Archer’ first wicket:

87 runs off 64 balls for 0 wickets; run-rate- 8.15

Following the first wicket:

81 runs off 56 balls for 6 wickets; run-rate- 8.67

On a batting paradise like the Wankhede, Mumbai could have easily breached the 200-run mark. However, courtesy of Archer’s double-strike, the acceleration never came with the frequent fall of wickets. In the end, they seemed 20-25 runs short and the end result panned out no differently.

Buttler’s knock- A curse or a boon?

A couple of days ago, Jos Buttler had equalled Virat Kohli as the player with the second most number of consecutive half-centuries in the T20 league with four fifties. He has undoubtedly hit a purple patch as in today’s match, he equalled Virender Sehwag’s record of five in a row. Mumbai bowlers tried to tuck him up and followed him whenever he tried to make room and hit the ball through the off-side.

Nevertheless, he was up to mark and outdrew anyone and everyone who stumbled onto his path. The Englishman has now won three Man of the Match in a row, which might be a healthy sign for Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the Royals need to be wary of the fact that their middle order hasn’t been tested enough and that might come and haunt them in the latter stages of the tournament.

Rating of the Match- 4.5