Breaks and Time Outs

62nd match: Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad at Mumbai - May 13, 2013

Sunrisers Hyderabad 178/3 (20/20 ov); Mumbai Indians 184/3 (19.3/20 ov)

Mumbai Indians won by 7 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)

Pollard is a big name in IPL6. With IPL coming to an end, he hadn't yet come to limelight for his batting. So it was time to script a match to highlight his batting prowess. That was not all. From the start, the script continued to throw up turnarounds contrary to what one would have expected from natural cricket.

Mumbai had bowled magnificently in their last three games. And SRH batting is considered to be the weakest line-up in the tournament. Winning the toss, they chose to bat first and scored 19 in the first over. Soon the odds were up in f/o MI to above 1.8 from starting odds of 1.57 . One got an impression that it was going to be their day. They continued to bat well, failing to capitalize in the last overs with their hitting potential remaining not utilized/underutilized.  Needless to say, it was done to manipulate the session (in their last outing they had accelerated well in the end even through tailenders) as well as to keep the odds in check.

Patel gave a straight catch just after Dhawal couldn't hold on to his offering earlier. A straight catch of White was dropped by none other than Rayudu, supposed to be the best among the best fielders.

When MI started their chase, SRH were favourites with odds of about 1.75. The match and odds continued to fluctuate thinly before Tendulkar hit the six just before retiring in the 12th over. Earlier a chance to run him out was handled too casually by Sammy and missed. The match was in control of MI and odds much in their favour at about 1.6. With Tendulkar retiring and 2 quick wickets, an unexpected turnaround against the run of play took place and suddenly SRH were again the comfortable favourites.

With required run rate at staggering 15.5 at the end of 16 overs, the odds were 1.35 in f/o SRH. One didn't know it was time for another unexpected and decisive turnaround. The 17th and 18th overs yielding 29 and 21 runs respectively, the match was swiftly over in f/o MI leaving the punters backing SRH (the obvious choice at that point) high and dry.  

Noticeably, the two big turnarounds in the match came just after the two breaks. First break on account of Tendulkar being attended and then retiring, and second being the second strategic time out for the innings after the 16 over. The book 'Inside The Boundary Line' has attempted to bring out the significance of time-outs with regards to fixing.