Rayudu was named Man of the Match for his magnificent knock of 68
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons and India batsman Ambati Rayudu both scored half-centuries to help the Mumbai Indians crush the Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
However, the Australian duo of Aaron Finch and David Warner both deserve a lot of credit as well as they scored valiant half-centuries for Hyderabad.
Hyderabad captain Shikhar Dhawan would have been regretting his decision to bat first after he himself was clean bowled by Lasith Malinga for 11 runs.
Lokesh Rahul fared no better as he was run out by Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma for 10 runs.
Finch and Warner stabilised the innings with a 63-run partnership, during which Finch brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Kieron Pollard at long-off off the bowling of Malinga.
Finch’s brilliant knock of 68 came off 62 balls and included seven boundaries and two sixes.
Finch struck seven boundaries during his valiant knock of 68
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Warner ended up scoring 55 off 31 deliveries, which included six boundaries and two sixes, as Hyderabad finished on 157/3 off their 20 overs.
Malinga took two wickets, while all the other bowlers came up short.
Warner made a gutsy 55
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Chasing 158 to win, Mumbai got off to a horrible start as opening batsman Chidhambaram Gautam was caught by Dhawan at mid-off off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for just one run.
Simmons and Rayudu made up for the early loss of Gautam with a 130-run partnership, during which both batsmen registered their half-centuries, before Simmons was cleaned up by Kumar for 68 off 50 balls, which included five boundaries and four sixes.
Simmons hammered five boundaries and four sixes during his entertaining innings of 68
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Rayudu went on to make 68 off 46 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught and bowled by Moises Henriques.
Sharma and Pollard had no problems leading Mumbai across the finish line and did so with eight balls to spare.
Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Henriques chipped in with one.
Rayudu was named Man of the Match.