All star of the match

Nabi's accuracy handcuffs Mumbai

Mohammad Nabi unrelentingly built pressure on Mumbai Indians, his 12 dots in the Powerplay setting the tone for a clinical bowling display from Sunrisers Hyderabad

Nikhil Kalro
08-May-2017

Star turn

Mohammad Nabi had played just one game this season before he was drafted in as Kane Williamson's replacement in a crucial match. The motive may have been to squeeze in a few overs against Mumbai Indians' left-handers and add some firepower with the bat towards the end overs. Did Sunrisers sacrifice experience for balance?
Nabi bowled three overs in the Powerplay, conceded 10 runs and took the wicket of Lendl Simmons. His variations in pace and length were exceptional, dragging his length back when he anticipated an attacking shot and firing deliveries straight when batsmen wanted to hit through or over the off side. He even slowed his pace down to extract just enough turn to keep Mumbai in check in a display that showed his craft and experience as a wily T20 bowler.

The wow moment

After a tidy first over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mumbai's batsmen knew they had to maximise the Powerplay. Nabi, bowling the second over, was aware of that too. Lendl Simmons stepped out off his first ball against Nabi, but the length wasn't nearly full enough for an attacking stroke. Simmons was forced to defend. One-nil to Nabi. Simmons wasn't going to let Nabi settle so he went again off the next ball. This one, though, was pushed through: flat, quick, straight. It went past Simmons' slog and clattered into the stumps. Two-nil.

The wow moment

  • Nabi bowled 12 dots in the Powerplay, the second most by a spinner in the IPL this year
  • Despite taking the ball into the right-handed batsmen, Nabi conceded just three runs off 11 balls with eight dot balls. Against left-handed batsmen, he conceded 10 runs off 13 balls
  • What they said

    "Wicket was sticky, so I bowled well in the Powerplay. Just focus on line and length, don't release the ball too early, focus on the batsmen, what's he doing"
    Mohammad Nabi on his plans
    "@MohammadNabi007 great bowling mate and @rashidkhan_19 keeping going"
    Afghanistan team-mate Samiullah Shenwari on Twitter
    "So happy for Afghanistan. Nabi playing tonight & like his country man Rashid making an impact with the ball"
    Sanjay Manjrekar on Twitter

    Nikhil Kalro is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo