Cameron Green stars again for Mumbai amid 'ridiculous' IPL drama

Aussie cricket star Cameron Green again starred for the Mumbai Indians but it was teammate Akash Madhwal who stole the show with an extraordinary five-wicket haul in the Indian Premier League playoff match against Lucknow Super Giants. Madhwal took the astonishing figures of 5-5 after Green's 41 runs helped lay the platform for a crushing 81-run win that leaves Mumbai one win away from the IPL final against the Chennai Super Kings.

Green ensured Mumbai qualified for the playoffs with a stunning century in Mumbai's final game of the regular season, and for the second match in a row, the Aussie was the top scorer for his side. Green was signed by Mumbai for $3.15 million, making him the most expensive Australian IPL player of all time and his last two matches have gone a long way to justifying that lofty price tag.

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Having elected to bat first in Chennai, Green (41) and Suryakumar Yadav (33) put on 66 runs to help guide the five-time champions to a whopping total of 8-182. Coming in at No.3, Green set Mumbai on their way with a confident innings that featured six fours and one massive pull for six over square leg, before he was bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq, who did most to restrict Mumbai. The Aussie allrounder then produced three excellent overs that went for just 15 and was unlucky not to have compatriot Marcus Stoinis out with the first ball he bowled to him as the Lucknow batter got away with a horrible skied miscue that just evaded an slow-starting fielder.

Stoinis took advantage of the reprieve to move to 40 off 27 balls and looked to be the Super Giants' last hope as wickers tumbled around him. However, he was guilty of ball-watching when going for a second run, bumping into his partner Deepak Hooda in the middle of the wicket before being run out in calamitous scenes.

Green, who had earlier snared a catch, then produced two excellent pieces of fielding to help ensure the calamitous run-outs of Krishnappa Gowtham and Hooda. Madhwal - who had removed Prerak Mankad in the second over before dismissing both Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran in the 10th - then put the game to bed to seal his incredible figures.

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When the Mumbai quick removed Mohsin Khan, he finished with the best figures by any bowler in this edition of the IPL, with Green bubbling in praise of his teammate. "Madhwal has been the game changer for us; five today, and got four-for the other day. He has been awesome. The moment he came, we realised he is special," Green said.

Mumbai's win saw them book a showdown against reigning IPL champions Gujarat Titans on Friday, with the winner to face Chennai in the competition's finale. Lucknow's innings imploded as they collapsed from 2-69 to be bowled out in just 16.3 overs, losing three key wickets to run outs.

Naveen-ul-Haq, who took four wickets for Lucknow, sent back Suryakumar and Green, bowled by a slower off-cutter from the Afghanistan pace bowler, in the space of three deliveries to push Mumbai onto the back foot. Tilak Varma hit back with a quickfire 26 and a 43-run stand with Tim David, who was out caught for 13 after unsuccessfully reviewing a full toss for being over waist-height.

Naveen finished with 4-38 and Yash Thakur took three wickets but despite their efforts Mumbai's impact sub Nehal Wadhera boosted the total with his 12-ball 23. Despite the best efforts of Stoinis, Lucknow proved to be their own worst enemies as they fell at the same hurdle as last season.

with agencies

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