MI gets defeated by Sunrisers in six-hitting savagery

Records fell as Sunrisers Hyderabad destroyed Mumbai Indians with a power-hitting match that left bowlers confused on both sides, posting the highest-ever IPL total of 277/3 before winning by 31 runs.

Heinrich Klaasen hit 34 balls for an undefeated eighty runs. After a spectacular power-hitting show by PTI SRH opener Travis Head (62 off 24) and No. 3 Abhishek Sharma (63 off 23), the latter managed to take the franchise record for the quickest fifty from the Australian in a matter of minutes.

The pyrotechnics in the end came from Heinrich Klaasen (80 not out off 34 balls), which helped SRH smash an 11-year-old record. The previous IPL record total of 263/5 was set in 2013 by Royal Challengers Bangalore. In a T20 competition, it was also the greatest total ever recorded.

That was just crazy. The ball was bouncing around a lot. It got a little too close for comfort, but not until we bowled. When they needed a barrier, they found one, but we did a good job of wrapping it up. Although you never play for 270, our intention was to be aggressive and upbeat. —Sr. Helen Cummins, captain

Mumbai’s bowlers were completely stunned by SRH’s six-hit barrage, but their batsmen came out determined to turn what seemed to be a one-way contest at the end of the innings.

They eventually finished in 20 overs at 246/5. It was the first time 500 runs had been scored in a T20 encounter, and a record 38 sixes were hit throughout the contest.

“The wicket was decent, but 277 indicates that the opposition batted really effectively, regardless of how well or poorly you bowled. For bowlers, the conditions were difficult. The wicket was favouring the hitters, as over 500 runs were scored, MI captain Hardik Pandya stated after the game.

In his 200th game for the team, Rohit Sharma (26 off 12) amassed a massive 278 runs with some beautiful strokeplay. Ishan Kishan (34 off 13) provided much-needed runs to support Sharma. — PTI

Brief standings: Mumbai Indians: 246/5 (Varma 64, David 42*; Cummins 2/35); Sunrisers Hyderabad: 277/3 (Klaasen 80*, Head 62, Abhishek 63; Chawla 1/34)

The highest total in IPL history was achieved by 277 SRH. The previous best score came from RCB in 2013 with a 263/5. In a men’s T20 encounter, no more runs were ever scored (523).

38 With SRH hitting 18 and MI hitting 20, the tie also witnessed the most sixes in a single match in T20 history.