Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians go into Match 12 of IPL 2016 in need of a victory. While SRH are yet to get off the mark this season, MI have lost two of their three games.
With the stakes high for this match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, there is the potential for a few outstanding innings/bowling performances, and, so, knowing everything will go the exact opposite way, here is a prediction of how SRH vs MI could go.
If SRH bat first: David Warner chose to bat after winning the toss against KKR and that particular strategy did not go according to plan as they lost four quick wickets. If they do end up bating first again, Warner and Shikhar Dhawan will hold the key to their fortunes.
The two left-handers do just that with Dhawan, finally, finding some form with the willow en route to forging a 70-odd run partnership with Warner. While Dhawan gets out, Warner stays with Eoin Morgan, sent in ahead of Moises Henriques, to set the base nicely for the final onslaught. Deepak Hooda also comes to the party to help SRH to 165.
In reply, MI struggle initially, as Martin Guptill, making his IPL debut, fails to fire, with Rohit Sharma falling for around 15. However, Jos Buttler and Hardik Pandya stay together for a while, scoring at a quick pace to set MI on their way to victory. Just when it looks like they might win, though, a couple of quick wickets, courtesy Mustafizur Rahman, swings things SRH's way again and they hold their nerve in the end to come up trumps.
Of MI bat first: The Mumbai Indians get off to a strong start courtesy Rohit Sharma and Martin Guptill/Parthiv Patel. Scoring at over eight runs an over, Pandya comes in and tonks a quick 20, before Buttler chips in with a quick 30. Those contributions take MI to 174, leaving SRH with a big chase.
Warner begins well with Dhawan, but the openers fall in quick succession with around 40 on the board. SRH threaten to collapse, like they do so often when Warner is dismissed, but Morgan and Henriques hold the team up to make a fist of the chase. Deepak Hooda comes in, with SRH needing 60 off the final five overs, and while the youngster and Naman Ojha try their best, they fall just short in the final over, making this match a rare one where the team batting first win.
