Match-ups likely to dominate Sunrisers versus MI contest
Hosts could play party poopers against the visitors; the duel between Bumrah against Head and Abhishek would attract eyeballs
The Indian Premier League is entering the last fortnight of the league stage. Naturally, it’s that time of the year when terms like “business end, must-win affair, playing for pride and playing spoilsport” will be used as frequently as Travis Head’s sixes and Jasprit Bumrah’s toe-crushers.
Despite all these terms betting the contest between Sunrisers Hyderabad — among the most aggressive outts who cannot aord a slip-up for making it to the Playos — and Mumbai Indians – on course to be awarded the wooden spoon, it will be the battle between the inform opening batter and the pick of IPL bowlers that will be tempting for the fans to ©ock the Wankhede Stadium on Monday night.
Head and Abhishek Sharma — the left-handed duo — have turned the aggressive template into an ultra-aggressive mode this time around.
Among the multiple occasions when the duo have set the tone for a gargantuan SRH total was the contest between these two sides in Hyderabad
MI.
SRH would rely on Head to get them o to a flier against
early on in the tournament.
So strangely was Bumrah used in that game that he bowled a solitary delivery to Head.
Only pride to play for
With Mumbai Indians having only pride and reputation to play for, the fans will be hoping for another duel between the duo instead of Bumrah’s workload being managed with an eye on India’s T20 World Cup challenge.
Equally interesting could be the battle between Rohit Sharma, who was used as an Impact
Player against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday night due to a sti back, and T. Natarajan, the leftarm pacer who has found his mojo.
4th T20I, FanCode, 3.30 p.m.
Star Sports 1 (SD & HD) & JioCinema, 7.30 p.m.
Sports 18-1 (SD & HD) & JioCinema, 12.15 a.m. (Tuesday) 1. V.S. Nandish (8); 2-4. S. Gokul Krishna, S. Haridev and N.R. Jaidambareesh (7.5); 5-8. S. Jai Sankar, M. Darshan Sasthaa, J.V. Stanley Blessing and Kavin Vijayakumar (7).
Girls: 1. S. Shanmathi Sree (7.5); 2-7. S. Kanishka, S. Padmini, K.P. Theephigaa, K. Sindhusree, R. Charudharshini and P. Janani (7).
Prasiddhi Vidyodaya triumphs
DINDIGUL: Prasiddhi Vidyodaya registered a six-wicket win over NPR CA in the nal to clinch the T. Thirumalairaj Memorial Trophy in the district-level under-16 cricket tournament (boys and girls), conducted by the Buds Group of Schools, on Sunday.
The scores (final): NPR 139/9 in 25 overs (A.R. Sidarth 47, S. Salman 28, A. Hemanth 3/24, J.R. Hari Prashath 3/8) lost to Prasiddhi Vidyodaya 143/4 in 22 overs (P.S.B. Tanish 64 n.o., A. Hemanth 29).
Special awards: Best batter: A.R. Sidarth (NPR); best bowler: A. Hemanth
(Prasiddhi Vidyodaya).
Arjun excels in Challenge Star’s big win
SIVAKASI: S. Arjun claimed four for 23 as Challenge Star defeated Metro by 130 runs in the Virudhunagar DCA rst division league. The scores: I div.: ANJA College 155 in 29.5 overs (P. Shanmuga Pandian 31) lost to Associated 157/5 in 35.2 overs (S. Reshikesh 38 n.o., A.J. Kavinraj 35 n.o.). Challenge Star 201/9 in 40 overs (Malaikannan 66, P.S.R. Krishikesh 36) bt Metro 71 in 16.5 overs (S. Arjun 4/23).
II div.: Tamilthai 134 in 23.3 overs (P. Muthu Ganesh 51,
Vanniyarajan 32, M. Santhosh 4/30, Muthukrishnan 3/24) lost to VRDCA XI 135/9 in 22 overs (P.S. Giridharan 56, Esakkipandi 33 n.o., Kalaiyarasan 3/15, M. Karuthapandi 3/14).
Miraculous 155 in 25 overs (B. Sridhar 36, Mahalingam 31, M. Suresh 3/17) lost to Nature 156/5 in 21.5 overs (Mariselvam 38, Gokul 37 n.o.).