Abu Dhabi: It was a complete all-round performance on the field by Mumbai Indians (MI) as they outwitted Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 57 runs in their IPL encounter here, Tuesday.
After Suryakumar Yadav (79 n o, 47b, 11×4, 2×6) smashed an unbeaten half century to fire MI to an imposing 193/4, Jasprit Bumrah (4/20) led their bowling attack with a sensational spell to bundle RR out for 136 in 18.1 overs.
Chasing a massive 194, RR had a nightmarish start as they lost three wickets – Yashasvi Jaiswal (0), Steve Smith (6) and Sanju Samson (0) – inside three overs with the scoreboard reading 12/3.
Thanks to Jos Buttler (70, 44b, 4×4, 5×6), RR managed to go past 100-run mark. Buttler was in full flow and his presence was causing trouble for MI. And it took an excellent effort near the boundary line by Kieron Pollard, who grabbed the catch in his second attempt, to end the RR hopes.
Besides Bumrah, Trent Boult (2/26) and James Pattinson (2/19) were also brilliant with the ball.
Earlier, Mumbai suffered a mini middle order collapse after a good start but late-hitting from Yadav and Hardik Pandya (30 n o, 19b, 2×4, 1×6) enabled the defending champions to amass 51 runs in the last three overs. The two shared 76 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket stand.
Opting to bat, openers Rohit Sharma (35, 23b, 2×4, 3×6) and Quinton de Kock (23, 15b, 3×4, 1×6) forged a quickfire 49-run stand. Debutant pacer Karthik Tyagi (1/36) removed De Kock in his very first over to provide the much needed breakthrough.
However, leggie Shreyas Gopal (2/28) struck twice in as many balls removing Rohit and Ishan Kishan (0) to leave Mumbai at 88/3 in the 10th over. While Rohit gave a sitter to Rahul Tewatia at long-on, Samson took a running catch at extra-cover to send Kishan back.
It became 117 for four after Krunal Pandya fell cheaply. Yadav, however, kept launching into the RR attack with great gusto and was particularly brutal on Tom Curran (0/33) in the 18th over that went for 19 runs. He was ably supported by Hardik, who produced a timely cameo.
Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 193/4 (Suryakumar Yadav 79 n o, Rohit Sharma 35, Hardik Pandya 30 n o; Shreyas Gopal 2/28) beat Rajasthan Royals 136 (Jos Buttler 70; Jasprit Bumrah 4/20, James Pattinson 2/19, Trent Boult 2/26) by 57 runs.
