Madhwal 5 for 5 powers Mumbai past Lucknow in Eliminator

The Mumbai Indians stormed into Qualifier 2 with a dominant performance against the Lucknow Super Giants in Chennai, hammering Krunal Pandya’s side by 81 runs to put them on the brink of another IPL final. Akash Madhwal starred for the five-time champions in the do-or-die encounter, picking up a stunning 5 for 5 in 3.3 overs to dismiss Lucknow for just 101 after Rohit Sharma’s side posted a commanding total of 183 while batting first.

Mumbai’s clinical showing at Chepauk sets up a meeting with the Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier in Ahmedabad on Friday, with the Chennai Super Kings awaiting the winner in the grand finale on Sunday.

Despite the worries of a sluggish Chennai wicket, MI burst out of the gates swinging after opting to bat first. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan provided the early fireworks, scoring 29 runs in the first three overs before Cameron Green picked up from where he left off against SRH after the opener’s dismissals. The Australian made full use of the fielding restrictions, slamming Naveen-ul-Haq and Krunal Pandya to help Mumbai finish the powerplay on 62 for 2.

Green continued his charge through the middle alongside Suryakumar Yadav to put Mumbai in a strong position. The pair smashed towering sixes against Mohsin Khan and added 66 runs for the third wicket. Mumbai remained in control at 98 for 2 at the halfway mark, but Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed both set batters in the 11th over with his slower deliveries to pull LSG back into the contest.

Lucknow capitalised on the Afghan’s double blow to neutralize Mumbai’s batting muscle at the death, but impact substitute Nehal Wadhera produced a priceless cameo of 23 from 12 balls to take Mumbai to a promising total of 182.

In response, Lucknow lost both openers in the powerplay, but Marcus Stoinis played the role of the aggressor early on, smashing 18 against Hrithik Shokeen in the sixth over to get the chase up and running. However, Lucknow’s innings collapsed dramatically after the powerplay as Akash Madhwal ripped through their middle order.

Krunal Pandya started the slide by holing out to long-on against Piyush Chawla before Madhwal removed Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran off successive deliveries to turn the game in Mumbai’s favour. The Super Giants also shot themselves in the foot with some calamitous running between the wickets. Marcus Stoinis was run out for 40 after a mix-up with Deepak Hooda, while Krishnappa Gowtham was sent back by a direct hit from Rohit Sharma, leaving LSG reeling at 92 for 7.

Madhwal returned to finish the job for Mumbai after Deepak Hooda became Lucknow’s third run-out victim, dismissing Ravi Bishnoi and Mohsin Khan to bowl the Super Giants out for 101 and complete his five-fer, registering the best figures in IPL history in the playoffs.