Ryan Rickelton’s record unbeaten 123 for the Mumbai Indians was outmuscled by Travis Head (76) and Heinrich Klaasen (65 not out) as Sunrisers Hyderabad won by six wickets in their Indian Premier League match in Mumbai on Wednesday.
After the hosts reached a formidable 243/5 thanks to Rickelton’s highest individual score for MI and their fastest-ever ton in IPL history, SRH won with eight balls to spare thanks to a combined batting display.
SRH achieved the fourth-highest successful run chase in IPL history on a docile track that offered no competition between the bat and the ball, while the Mumbai Indians had also scored their best score batting first.
Earlier, Ryan Rickelton scored the fastest century ever by a Mumbai Indians batter, leading his team to an incredible 243/5. On a batting-friendly pitch at Wankhede Stadium, Rickelton anchored MI’s push for a formidable total by batting through the innings for an undefeated 123 off just 55 balls, including 10 fours and 8 sixes.
As MI made a last-ditch effort to turn things around with their greatest total of the season thus far, the 29-year-old Rickelton scored a third century for his team. Rickelton used the long handle to its fullest potential and executed his strokes with confidence rather than taking any unnecessary chances.
In addition to Rickelton’s exploits, MI’s captain Hardik Pandya (31 off 15 balls; 2 fours, 2 sixes) and England opener Will Jacks (46 off 22 balls) were also excellent.
South African wicketkeeper-batter Rickelton gave MI the energy they had been lacking for the majority of this season with Jacks as their new opening partner.
The two set the tone for a bold approach with the bat by scoring 78 in the powerplay and 93 for the first wicket in seven overs. More significantly, though, Rickelton persisted for a considerable amount of time because his innings served as the glue that kept MI together and continued to propel them toward a substantial total.
Rickelton competed his first half-century off 23 balls after being dismissed with a massive six over midwicket off Praful Hinge (2/54) in the second over. In just 21 deliveries, he scored the next fifty runs.
In between, MI lost Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav (5), and even Naman Dhir (22), but Rickelton’s knock helped them bounce back. Jacks performed admirably in his opening match of the season, hitting three sixes and five fours, while Suryakumar was bounced out by Eshan Malinga (1/29), showing no indication that he is even close to regaining his form.
An edge soared straight to Abhishek Sharma at fine leg, suggesting that the Indian T20I captain did not react properly to the bounce after pulling the short ball. Rickelton continued to drive forward, and Dhir was unable to keep up with the scoring pace from the other end. In the 14th over, he was killed by Hinge.
In the meantime, the Mumbai Indians’ players wore black armbands to the game because one of their support staff members’ daughter passed away too soon.
