Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer followed up a blistering hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 with another blazing cameo, a quickfire unbeaten 44 from No.9 against Hyderabad today (December 23).
Mumbai switch around their batting order
In their second game of the tournament in Ahmedabad, Mumbai made a rejig to the batting order while chasing just 169. The experiment didn't work as they found themselves reeling at 105-7 in 18.4 overs after Ajay Dev Goud pinned Suryakumar Yadav lbw for 18 off 23 balls. The dismissal resulted in Iyer walking in at No.9, four rungs below where came to the crease against Karnataka.
While the required run rate wasn't a concern, Iyer didn't waste any time to get going, launching an immediate counter-attack. Dev Gould bore the brunt of Iyer's rampage as the in-form batter took 33 off the 10 deliveries he faced against the fast bowler, parking him for two sixes and four fours.
He eventually finished with 44 not out off 20 deliveries, taking Mumbai home in 25.2 overs without any further damage. Iyer was well supported by all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who remained not out on a 37-ball 39. Kotian also picked up 2-38 in the first innings, winning the Player of the Match.
First ODI✅
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 23, 2024
Second ODI ✅
Third ODI ✅#ICYMI: Pakistan became the first team to whitewash South Africa in a home ODI bilateral series.
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Hyderabad began well, racking up 85 runs for the first wicket, of which 64 came off Tamnay Agarwal's bat and 35 off Abhirath Reddy's. Barring a 47-ball 52 from wicketkeeper-batter Aravelly Avanish, every other batter registered single-digit scores, bringing a premature end to Hyderabad's innings.
Iyer's innings came on the back of a 50-ball hundred against Karnataka, who overpowered Mumbai's 382-4 two days back, thanks to KL Srijith's 150 not out. The win against Hyderabad was a hard-earned one since it wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.
Having played a starring role in Mumbai's title run in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Iyer continues his purple patch with the bat.
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