Sunrisers set MI London a target of 144 at the Kia Oval and then reduced the chase to 51 for 3 inside the first 44 deliveries. That position, which appeared competitive at the time, was ultimately not enough to prevent a seven-wicket defeat with 16 balls remaining. The manner of MI London's recovery raises questions about how Sunrisers managed their bowling resources in the second half of the chase.
Carse Gives Sunrisers the Perfect Start
Brydon Carse was Sunrisers' standout performer with the ball. He opened the bowling and immediately created pressure with pace, bounce and movement off the surface. His first significant wicket came in the sixth delivery of the innings — Will Jacks caught at cover by Benny Howell for 2 after the ball angled in and seamed away to induce a mistimed heave. Two deliveries into the next over, Carse struck again, this time drawing a thick edge from Jason Roy through to Mitchell Marsh at slip. Roy departed for 0 on his birthday.
Carse continued to operate throughout the powerplay phase, completing ten consecutive deliveries at one stage. By the time he finished his first spell of ten balls, MI London were 8 for 2. He returned later in the innings to bowl his full allocation, finishing with figures of 2 for 18 from 20 deliveries — by some distance the most economical performance of the night among the Sunrisers' bowlers.
Nathan Ellis also contributed meaningfully. His dismissal of James Vince in the 45th delivery of the chase — bowling him through the gate for 17 — left MI London at 51 for 3 and brought Nicholas Pooran to the crease. Ellis went on to finish with 1 for 22 from 20 balls, maintaining discipline even as the partnership developed.
The Middle Overs Problem
Where Sunrisers' plan came undone was in the middle phase once Pooran and Sam Curran were established. Benny Howell, who had earlier been tidy, conceded 14 runs in an over to Pooran — a four, six and four in three consecutive deliveries. Dan Lawrence's offbreaks offered no relief, with Pooran hitting him for six and Curran punishing a full delivery down the ground for four. Abrar Ahmed, whose first five balls had cost only nine runs, was taken for two sixes in consecutive deliveries by Pooran when he returned to the attack.
Matthew Potts, used at various stages in the middle and death overs, was also expensive once the partnership moved into its dominant phase. A full toss was launched over wide long on by Curran, and Pooran hit him for six first ball of a subsequent spell. Potts finished with 0 for 22 from 15 deliveries in the match's decisive phase.
A Missed Window
Sunrisers captain Zak Crawley brought Carse back to try to stem the flow, and Ellis was also reintroduced, but by then the required run rate had been managed to a point where it favoured the batting side. With 11 needed from 20 balls, Curran struck a full toss from Potts over wide long on for six. Four balls later, Pooran struck the winning boundary — a four beyond mid off — to end the contest.
The scoreline of 144 set and 51 for 3 achieved tells part of Sunrisers' story. The bowling attack gave their side genuine hope. But once that window between the 45th and 84th deliveries of MI London's innings closed, Sunrisers had no answer to the Pooran-Curran partnership, which added the winning runs across just 40 balls. A crowd of 20,540 at the Kia Oval witnessed the defeat.
