• Coetzee, Brevis impress for Mumbai Indians

    Published on

    The Mumbai Indians suffered a six-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans in the IPL on Sunday despite significant contributions from Gerald Coetzee and Dewald Brevis.

    Proteas paceman Coetzee took 2-27 in four overs on his IPL debut as the Titans posted 168-6, with David Miller scoring just 12 off 11 balls.

    Rohit (43 off 29 balls) and Brevis (46 off 38; two fours and three sixes) shone in Mumbai’s chase with a third-wicket stand of 77, but Gujarat’s bowlers hit back to restrict the opposition in Ahmedabad.

    Five-time champions Mumbai needed 48 from 36 balls with seven wickets in hand before going down to an opening loss.

    “We backed ourselves to chase those 42 runs but it was one of those days where we lost the momentum,” said Hardik Pandya, who controversially replaced Rohit as Mumbai Indians captain.

    “It feels good to be back because this is one stadium you can enjoy, feel the atmosphere quite lively and obviously the crowd was full and they got a good game as well.”

    Commentators said close to 90,000 fans turned up at the 132,000-capacity arena.

    Mohit Sharma took down Brevis, who came in as impact substitute, and then Tim David in successive overs before fellow quick Spencer Johnson struck twice in the 19th over to dent the chase further.

    The wicket of Rohit (43)  in the 13th over off Sai Kishore also proved to be key for Gujarat.

    Pandya attempted to go for the 19 runs needed in the last over with a six and a four off Umesh Yadav before being caught out on the third.

    “I think the way the boys held their nerve, and the way we bowled in the death overs, especially with the dew coming in, I thought it was special,” said Gill.

    Pandya, who has returned to competitive cricket after an ankle injury, bowled with the new ball and sent down three overs for 30 runs.

    Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah came in first change to bowled Wriddhiman Saha with a trademark toe-crushing yorker and finished with figures of 3-14 in four overs to keep Gujarat to 168-6.

    His other two wickets included Sai Sudarshan, who top-scored with 45, and Miller.

    Bumrah was ably supported by Coetzee, who joined the franchise for $602,000 in the auction last year.

    © Agence France-Presse

    Photo: BCCI

    Post by

    Simon Borchardt