IPL 2019 SRH vs MI: Alzarri Joseph's 6-for guides Mumbai to 40-run victory

Joseph returned with sensational figures of six for 12 in 3.4 overs, bettering the effort of Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir, who had taken six for 14 in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) tried their best to control the Mumbai Indians (MI) but the Carribean duo – Alzarri Joseph and Keiron Pollard turned the table for the Orange Army. After Pollard’s powerful knock, Joseph’s best IPL bowling figures caused havoc in Hyderabad, helping Mumbai to win the game by 40 runs. Joseph made all the difference in the bowling department, ending with sensational figures of six for 12 in 3.4 overs, bettering the effort of Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir, who had taken six for 14 in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008. Hyderabad were all out for 96 in 17.4 overs.

Alzarri Joseph’s fairytale start to IPL https://t.co/c5Ey4bKBV1

— Aakash Biswas (@aami_aakash) April 6, 2019

It was the third win for Mumbai Indians in five games while Hyderabad suffered their second loss in five matches. Considering the stellar form of openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, 137 was expected to be a comfortable chase for Hyderabad. But they both were dismissed cheaply and that exposed the middle order which had not been tested much courtesy the devastating run of the openers. It was the first time this season that Hyderabad lost a wicket in the first six overs. The hosts needed 53 off the last 30 balls and ended up well short of the target with Joseph running through the opposition line-up. Earlier, it seemed Hyderabad would limit Mumbai to a sub-120 total before Pollard's brute power came to the fore, enabling the visitors to collect 39 crucial runs off the final 12 balls. Until Pollard cut loose, Hyderabad put up an impressive bowling effort on a slow pitch. It wasn't the best of starts for Mumbai, who lost captain Rohit Sharma (11) and Suryakumar Yadav (7) early to be 30 for two in six overs. Rohit was dropped in the first over by Siddarth Kaul but could not make much use of that life and was holed out at deep midwicket off Mohammad Nabi in the fourth over. Mumbai's innings hardly had any flow before Pollard provided the much needed final flourish in the death overs by smashing Kaul for three massive sixes in the 19th over that went for 20 runs. Bhuvneshwar's final over went for 19 runs with Pollard collecting two fours and a six, giving Mumbai something to bowl at. Poor fielding let Hyderabad down towards the end of the innings.