Bond criticized the team for making the “same mistake over and over again” in match situations.
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LSG‘s Mohsin Khan, who made a comeback from a long injury lay-off, played a crucial role in defending 11 runs in the final over against the destructive Tim David.
LSG had recovered from a position of 123/3 in 17 overs to post a total of 177 runs. MI bowler Chris Jordan had a costly over, conceding 24 runs in the 18th over, contributing to LSG’s late surge. In the last three overs of LSG’s innings, MI’s bowling unit conceded more than 50 runs, which would have disappointed Bond and the team management.
Bond’s frustration likely stems from the team’s inability to execute their plans effectively and contain the opposition’s batting line-up during crucial moments in matches.
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“For me, the most frustrating thing is about not sticking to the plans that we talk about. We were very clear with what we wanted to do on this wicket to players like Marcus (Stoinis) and where we wanted to bowl, we didn’t bowl there consistently enough,” Bond said at the post-match press conference.
“When you’re looking at a team plan, you’ve got to get the batsmen to hit in areas where you want them to hit. Make it as hard as possible for them. You don’t want them to hit you in areas that they want to hit.
“We saw that with Stoinis — a fine player. We knew he was trying to hit straight down the ground and we dished out balls for him to do it. In the end, his innings was the difference between the two teams.”
Marcus Stoinis displayed his immense power playing an unbeaten innings of 89 runs off just 47 balls. Stoinis’ aggressive batting helped LSG recover from a shaky start and set a challenging total for Mumbai Indians.
Stoinis showcased his hitting ability by smashing eight sixes during his explosive innings. He formed a crucial partnership of 82 runs with stand-in captain Krunal Pandya, who had to retire hurt after scoring 49 runs. This partnership was instrumental in LSG’s recovery after they found themselves in a difficult position at 35 for three in the seventh over.
Stoinis’ aggressive and power-packed innings provided LSG with the momentum they needed to post a competitive total on the scoreboard. His ability to clear the boundaries with regularity put pressure on the MI bowlers and gave his team a significant advantage in the match.
Bond added, “We’ve always prided ourselves in our preparation, the work that we do behind the scenes and how we review the game — the mistakes on which we want to improve. The frustrating thing is that we’re making the same mistake over and over again. From my point of view, it’s disappointing.
“For 15 overs, we were excellent, we delivered what we wanted to. One player put us under pressure. That’s what Rashid Khan did the other night and we made the same mistakes. It didn’t cost us in the last game, it definitely cost us tonight.
“You can never stop good players from scoring runs. You’d rather have players scoring 89 from 47 be at 70 from 47. Those 17 to 20 runs can make a difference. We’ve talked about that at Wankhede over the course of the year. You are talking about a difference of 10-15 runs,” he said.
“There’s no way we should have gone for 54 runs in the last three overs on that ground. It was just poor.”
Mohsin Khan’s exceptional performance in the final over proved crucial for LSG in their pursuit of a top-four finish. Despite missing the entire domestic season due to a shoulder injury, Mohsin displayed composure and skill to successfully defend 11 runs in the last over of the match.
Mohsin’s ability to hold his nerve in a high-pressure situation played a significant role in LSG’s victory and their progression towards securing a spot in the top four of the tournament standings. Mohsin’s comeback from injury and his impactful performance not only helped LSG win the match but also boosted their chances of advancing to the playoffs.
Despite the loss, Mumbai Indians still have a chance to qualify for the playoffs. The defeat did not eliminate them from contention.
(With PTI inputs)
