SRH vs MI Highlights: Suryakumar's 51-Ball 102* helps Mumbai ...

MUMBAI: If India are to mount a serious challenge in the

T20 World Cup

next month, the blazing bat of

Suryakumar Yadav

will hold the key.
Lighting up Monday night at a packed

Wankhede Stadium

with his dazzling array of strokes, 'SKY', the world's No. 1 T20I batsman, bullied the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers while blazing his way to a magnificent 51-ball century (102*), unleashing 12 fours and five sixes to shape a thumping seven-wicket win for Mumbai Indians.

Towards the end of the match, Surya went berserk, pulling Sunrisers captain

Pat Cummins

for consecutive fours and then a six deep into the stands, taking 18 off the 17th over, before reaching his second IPL hundred and sealing the chase with a six over wide long-off off T Natarajan. With 'SKY' in full cry, MI galloped to their 174-run target in the 18th over itself.

The only worry for India's fans would be that during his captivating knock, the Mumbaikar, having returned from a sports hernia injury, was seen grimacing in pain a few times.
Surya's breathtaking knock and his unfinished 143-run partnership in just 79 balls for the fourth wicket with

Tilak Varma

(37 not out, 32b, 6x4) helped MI halt a four-match losing streak and handed them just their fourth win this season. It's a defeat which can hurt the Sunrisers' quest for a playoff spot.

Earlier,

Hardik Pandya

finally found his bowling form. Leading by example, Pandya bowled spiritedly and with decent pace (high 130s), thriving on a helpful pitch to take three for thirty one in four overs.
Hitting the hard length consistently, he had Nitish Kumar Reddycaught at point by debutant Anshul Kamboj at point, before taking the wickets of Shabaz Ahmed and the dangerous-looking Marco Jansen.
Pandya was supported brilliantly by veteran leggie

Piyush Chawla

, who took 3/33 off his four overs.