Boult, Sharma shine for Mumbai in massive victory

HYDERABAD, India:

Mumbai Indians broke into the top three of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament with a commanding seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Impact player Rohit Sharma (70) hit his second straight half-century as Mumbai motored to 146-3 in 15.4 overs, propelling the five-time champions to third place on the points table after struggling early in the season.

Heinrich Klaasen's 71 off 44 balls had earlier saved Hyderabad from complete destruction to score 143-8 with new ball bowlers Trent Boult (4-26) and Deepak Chahar (2-12) doing the most damage.

It is a remarkable turnaround for Mumbai, which won only one of their first five games before bouncing back with four straight wins. Hyderabad are at No. 9, just ahead of last-place Chennai Super Kings.

SIXES RECORD

Sharma had a quiet start to the season with a top-score of 26 in his first six games. But the seasoned T20 batter got back into his groove when he smacked unbeaten 76 against Chennai at home three days ago.

Sharma continued where he left off and despite the slowness of the wicket he smacked three sixes and eight fours in his fluent half-century. Sharma also became the highest six hitter for Mumbai with 259 sixes and surpassed Kieron Pollard's Mumbai record of 258.

Ryan Rickelton (11) yet again couldn't capitalise on a good start and offered a one-handed return catch to Jaydev Unadkat, who had replaced struggling Mohammed Shami in Hyderabad's playing XI.

Sharma then shared two half-century stands with Will Jacks (22) and Yadav, before chipping a regulation catch at mid-wicket when Mumbai were just 14 runs away from victory.

Yadav summed up a dismal night for Hyderabad when the ball burst through the hands of Nitesh Kumar Reddy at deep mid-wicket for a four as the fielder seemed to have lost the ball in the floodlights and it crossed the ropes.

"Glad the boys are taking the momentum in the right way," Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya said. "I've felt, once everyone starts clicking in this team there will be domination. ... Overall, a wonderful win."

- AP