After four consecutive defeats, Mumbai Indians (MI) lifted the gloom in the dressing room in style as
Suryakumar Yadav
's sensational century led the cheers in the home team's seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their IPL match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.
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Chasing SRH's 173 for 8, MI were in a spot of bother at 31 for 3, but Surya launched a counter-attack to score 51-ball 102 not out, including 12 fours and 6 sixes, to deflated SRH bowling with his 360-degree batting.
He added 143 runs in an unbeaten fourth-wicket partership with Tilak Varma (37 not out).
Earlier in SRH innings, MI captain Hardik Pandya (3 for 31) and veteran legspinner Piyush Chawla (3 for 33) led the bowling charts with three wickets each to restrict the visitors, who could reach a competitive total only because of opener Travis Head's 48 off 30 balls and skipper Pat Cummins's 17-ball cameo of 35 not out.
The commentators were in awe of Surya's T20 batting skills as he completed his century with a match-winning six off the second ball of the 17th over.
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"I have done this after a long time," said Surya at the post-match presentation. "I fielded for 20 overs and batted for 18 overs, only tired."
Skipper Hardik said it was an "unbelievable" knock by Surya.
"It's unbelievable! The best past of SKY is that he puts the bowlers under pressure. It's sheer confidence...He can change a game in a different way. Lucky to have him in our side," said Hardik after the match.
While Mumbai's playoff hopes are only mathematically alive in the ongoing IPL, Surya's litmus test will be at the
T20 World Cup
in the US and West Indies, beginning June 2.
If MI don't reach the playoffs, Surya will have time to rest as well as refocus for the big-ticket T20 tournament, where India will begin their campaign with the group game against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by the big match against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue.
Co-hosts USA and Canada are the other two teams in India's group.
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