Mumbai edge Pune in gripping IPL final – Latham ton propels NZ to Ireland rout

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HYDERABAD, India, May 21, (AFP): Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant by a single run in a gripping Indian Premier League final on Sunday to claim their third title. Pune captain Steve Smith hit a crucial 51 that seemed to put Pune on course for victory in the chase for Mumbai’s 129-8 in Hyderabad.

But he was then one of two wickets to fall in straight balls to Smith’s compatriot Mitchell Johnson in the final over and Pune ended on 128-6. Mumbai seemed to be struggling after openers Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons went in the third over to Pune paceman Jaydev Unadkat. Hardik Pandya smashed 47 – including 37 off three overs – to give Mumbai a total they could defend.

“The key was Steve Smith and MS Dhoni,” said Mumbai coach Robin Singh. “And once MS was out we just had to make sure Steve did not get too many chances.”

Mumbai previously won the IPL, which is marking its 10th anniversary this year, in 2013 and 2015.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham led from the front with a century as his side beat Ireland by an emphatic margin of 190 runs at Malahide on Sunday to win the one-day international tri-series with a game to spare.

The Black Caps face Bangladesh in Wednesday’s final match at Clontarf, when Latham will receive the trophy.

Defending an imposing 344 for six, New Zealand needed only 39.3 overs to bowl out their hosts for 154, with Matt Henry, just returned from the Indian Premier League, taking three for 36.

Ireland captain William Porterfield top scored for his side with 48 from 50 balls (five fours and a six) but when he was fourth out at the start of the 19th over for 75, the innings went downhill fast.

Niall O’Brien followed in the next over and wickets fell steadily with all six Black Caps bowlers striking.

Only a last-wicket stand of 25 between Barry McCarthy and Peter Chase, the No 11 who hit a career-best 14, delayed the inevitable.

The strength of this New Zealand team is their batting, however, and while Latham led from the front with his third ODI century, from 109 balls with eight fours and four sixes, it was the even faster scoring around him from Luke Ronchi (35 from 31) and Neil Broom (38 off 42) that was so impressive.

When Latham was third out – dismissed for 104 – at the end of the 36th over, with the total on 212, the Ireland bowlers enjoyed their best spell, but the entry of Colin Munro changed all that. He thumped 44 off 15 balls with three fours and four sixes in a prolific 57-run stand with Mitchell Santner. In all 72 came off the last four overs.

It was a new look Black Caps side as they also welcomed back all-rounder Corey Anderson from the IPL – although he was restricted to 20 off 24 balls with just one six – while Adam Milne also made his first appearance of the series.

Ireland dropped the experienced Kevin O’Brien and Tim Murtagh but it yielded no improvement as they slumped to a 10th successive loss against a full member nation.

Latham was fortunate to reach his century as, 11 runs short he was caught at third man but, after the television umpire was consulted, bowler Craig Young was ruled to have over-stepped and a no-ball was called.

South Africa’s Kyle Abbott again showed what his compatriots will miss while they are in England by taking five wickets for Hampshire.

The Proteas arrived in England this week for a three-month tour that includes next month’s Champions Trophy and a subsequent Test series with their hosts.

But 29-year-old fast bowler Abbott is set to play no part for South Africa after cutting short a stop-start international career for the financial security of a deal with south coast side Hampshire.

Abbott, currently the leading wicket-taker in this season’s English first-class County Championship, took his tally to 25 by taking five for 58 as Essex were dismissed for 360, featuring a hundred from former England captain Alastair Cook, on the second day of their First Division clash at Chelmsford.

But Hampshire then suffered a dramatic collapse as they slumped from 18 without loss to 34 for seven, with Australia’s George Bailey and England’s James Vince both out for ducks.

By stumps, Hampshire had made it to 92 for seven, still 268 runs adrift.

Elsewhere, Jack Leaning made an unbeaten 118 and paceman Jack Brooks a career-best 94 as Yorkshire piled up 421 for seven against a Lancashire attack missing England spearhead James Anderson because of a groin injury.

At Lord’s, Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara could only add one to his overnight 113, having celebrated the unveiling of his portrait in the Pavilion with a hundred for visitors Surrey in their London derby with Middlesex.

Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 103 left Middlesex just 17 runs behind Surrey’s first-innings 313, with the reigning county champions having five wickets in hand.

In the Second Division, Australia’s Nathan Lyon took his first County Championship wicket.

The off-spinner, playing for Worcestershire, had Derbyshire’s Alex Hughes lbw for 53 on a rain-marred day at Derby.

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