Manoj Tiwary heaps praise MS Dhoni for playing the match winning knock

Rising Pune Supergiant batsman Manoj Tiwary praised his teammate MS Dhoni after winning the first playoff of the Indian Premier League 2017 on Tuesday. Supergiant defeated Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium last night by 20 runs. Coming in to bat in the middle order Dhoni and Tiwary played crucial innings towards the end of the innings which inspired Supergiant to set a 163 runs respectable target for the Mumbai Indians.

Dhoni hit five sixes in his 40-run knock while Tiwary played a 58 runs knock. The duo was cautious until the 18th over but thereafter cut loose and hit Mitchell McClenaghan and Jasprit Bumrah for 41 runs in the last 12 balls. That impetus towards the end of the inning gave them the momentum going into the second part of the game and eventually helped them seal the game.

Praising Dhoni’s knock, Tiwary said, “The momentum shifted during the last two overs. We were struggling to get that until the 18th, 19th and 20th over where Mahi bhai played some outstanding shots. It was not easy against Bumrah, but he showed why he is such a highly-talented player.”

Dhoni and Tiwary made the difference

Tiwary and Dhoni built a 73 runs fourth wicket which tilted the match in their favour. “He has so much of ability to hit the best bowlers in the IPL. Those sixes in the crucial overs helped us to put up a good total,” he said.

Meanwhile, the seasoned Bengal cricketer also mentioned the strategies of skipper Steve Smith and mentor Stephen Fleming as they told Tiwary and Ajinkya Rahane to keep a target of around 160 in mind that would be enough for them to defend.

Tiwary on why MS is setting the field

During this season, we have seen that MS Dhoni setting the fields in almost all the games. Speaking on this, Tiwary said, “He (Smith) is doing a good job, but the kind of results that we are getting it cannot be only credited to only one person. Each and everyone has played their part whether it is on the field or off the field by giving suggestions to him as he is not from India. He does not completely know the Indian domestic players and other teams as well, so we share our ideas.”

“Mahi bhai has been supporting very well to him. It is evident on the field that he (Dhoni) has been manoeuvring the field placements and keeping them in the right position while Smith is completely focused on changing the bowlers. He has too much on his plate and that way Mahi bhai is guiding each and every player to stand in the right position.

Washington Sundar bamboozled Mumbai Indians

Supergiant’s 17-year-old spinner Washington Sundar ran through the Mumbai Indians middle order claiming three wickets in quick succession. Sundar’s bowling in the middle overs affected Mumbai Indians’ chase as he claimed crucial wickets that of Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard.

The overall team performance helped Supergiant to advance to the final of IPL 2017 with ease. Now, they will play the May 21 final. Mumbai Indians in reply to Supergiant’s 162 lost five wickets for 75 runs. Their last hope was Parthiv Patel who was caught by Sahrdul Thakur off Dan Christian for 56 and with that it was just a matter of time.

Now, Mumbai Indians have to play the winner of the first Eliminator. The Eliminator will be played today between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.