and that's all over. Pollard didn't even face a ball. Hardik swats this from outside off to long-on and they complete the win.
11.58pm: Well that's that. Another loss for RCB, who have yet more to add to their list of 'things to correct this season'. Hardik's end-overs big-hitting continues to be amazing, but most surprisingly perhaps, Rohit Sharma - who you think would know the Wankhede pitch inside out having grown up here - says he still doesn't understand it! On that note, this is Saurabh signing off on behalf of Ankur and Raghav.
11.52pm: Rohit Sharma: "(Hardik's hitting) Ya he has been (at a different level) It's helping the team and helping him as well. He wanted to contribute with bat and ball in this particular season. He didn't have much cricket before IPL so he wanted to prove a point, to himself more than anyone else. The way he's hitting holds us in a better position. It will help us win those crucial games. (On Malinga) I've been talking about him more often, how he's been an important member of this squad. His performance matters to us. Now he's back from Sri Lanka with that sort of performance. It will help us moving forward because his form is very critical. Trust me, bowling at Wankhede in the death overs is not easy. He held his nerve against one of the best in the world. Credit to the bowlers as well to restrict a strong RCB line-up to 170. If the pitch plays like that, I dont' want to chase! one thing I've learned this season is I've still not been able to figure out the pitch at Wankhede. Luckily we got a good start and the guys lower down could build on that platform, otherwise it would have not been easy."
Lasith Malinga is Man of the Match: "Last couple of weeks have been a tough time for me, I had to go to Sri Lanka and play the domestic tournament. But I realised that when I get a chance, I have to give 100%. These kind of tournaments you have to prepare mentally. Skill-wise we know what we have to do. We know exactly who can do damage, and AB is the main guy. When he got out, I used my variations and took wickets."
11.48pm: Here's another spot by Gaurav Sundararaman: The last time Negi bowled to Hardik at the death, when 30 off 2 overs were required, Hardik hit 24 runs and won the match. This was against CSK.
11.38pm: Mumbai were in control for most of that chase despite the wobble induced by Chahal and Moeen. Makes you wonder why no Washington Sundar still in RCB - this was a pitch where they needed another spinner. Hardik's finishing has hit another level in this IPL. He's invariably come in and backed himself to go big, and gone big. Incredible power on show. RCB's call to bowl Negi and hold Saini back didn't come off. Was a questionable one anyway.
Virat Kohli: We played a pretty good game I guess. I think with the ball in the first six overs we were not right up there. Conceding 65 in six, it was always difficult to come back from that. We had to take a chance with the spinner at the end with two right-handers in. (On Moeen) He is striking the ball so well and he's bowling with a lot of heart and determination. It's good to see a senior player in the team taking responsibility. He deserves all the credit for his performances. We just have to enjoy ourselves, play the way we did in the last two games and try to show more composure in those pressure situations. Take those half-chances. The catch that went down off Hardik could have been a game-changer.
Hardik Pandya: Thankful to the openers for setting it up, made it easy for us. I felt RCB didn't bowl well in the Powerplay and that hurt them. The way the wicket started playing, I thought they were looking at 170-180 because even AB was finding it difficult to hit. I think AB's wicket was important, it made a 15 run difference which would have been handy at the end.
the pressure tells on Negi and he bowls it too far outside off
bye bye RCB their chances are disappearing with the ball. the ball is spinning away from him but he slog-sweeps it from well outside off and smashes it over wide long-on
in his hitting arc again, and Hardik picks this up from outside off, almost on half-volley and swings this once bounce into the midwicket fence
smashed width offered outside off and clattered through extra cover. No chance of any fielder to stop it
that's some power didn't time it at all, too short and there to be hit, but Hardik got a thick top edge. Still enough power on it to carry it over the long-on boundary
swing and a miss! Hardik wanted to send that to Brabourne, went for a big swing. Grip and turn from outside off on a length, beats bat
Ashok : "Another infamous 11 off 21 was the one scored by Yuvi in the 2014 T20 WC final..." - but with 22 off 12 needed and Hardik and Pollard here, you'd still back MI. Negi is back meanwhile
takes the pace off and keeps it on a length wide of off, Pandya punches it, rolls to mid-on off a thick inside edge
too far outside off stump again. He wants to keep it out of Hardik's reach but that will be a wide
Pollard at the non-striker's end because the Pandyas crossed
good length on the stumps, Krunal moves across and wants to flick it, but his timing's been awry all innings and he only lobs it up in the air. Deep midwicket takes a few steps in and gobbles the ball to end Krunal's laboured stay.
fuller outside off again, Hardik moves across and scoop-drives it. Long off's there now so he collects
that one will be a wide though. Well outside the tram line
just inside the tram-line and that will be a dot ball. Hardik lets it go, but it's not a wide
that is a super shot, even if not well timed. Back of a length outside off and he only gets a toe-end to it but hits with enough power to make it travel. And gets the placement perfect, right back over the bowler
good length on off again and drilled with power, but without timing, to Kohli at mid-off. He wants to pick it up and fire a throw in but doesn't collect cleanly
Siraj
just eludes Tim Southee full ball, almost a yorker outside off and Hardik has seen mid-off up so he goes over him. No timing on that, gets it off the end of the bat. Southee running back hard and dives, but can only get a hand to it and can't stop it going into the boundary
good length angling across, Krunal smears it to extra cover inside the circle. No timing on that at all
length ball coming in a little and flicked off his hips to deep square leg
fine leg coming into the circle
another good ball, back of a length in the corridor again. Hardik's doing his thing of widening stance and moving across to set himself up to bash it through the leg side, but the pace of the ball as much as the tight line defeated him
beaten back of a length in the corridor and Hardik goes for the expansive drive, but doesn't connect. Was close to his outside edge
1W | 1W | |||
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | |
Toss | Mumbai Indians, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2019 |
Player Of The Match | |
Hours of play (local time) | 20.00 start, First Session 20.00-21.30, Interval 21.30-21.50, Second Session 21.50- 23.20 |
Match days | 15 April 2019 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Mumbai Indians 2, Royal Challengers Bangalore 0 |
Over 19 • MI 172/5
Mumbai won by 5 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)