Mumbai: Superb all-round bowling by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru strangled Mumbai Indians’ hopes of successfully mounting the highest-ever chase at the Wankhede, as the visitors romped to an 18-run victory in Match 20 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Sunday.
RCB rode on brilliant, blazing half-centuries by Phil Salt (78) and Rajat Patidar (53) and a sedate fifty by Virat Kohli to post 240/4 in 20 overs.
Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma came up with some fine efforts with the ball on a pitch that offered little assistance and capitalised on the scoreboard pressure to restrict the Mumbai Indians to 222/5.
Sherfane Rutherford’s valiant 31-ball 71 and his 68-run partnership with Mitchell Santner (8) went in vain as the Mumbai Indians slumped to their third successive defeat.
But the bigger concern for the five-time champions would be the hamstring injury suffered by former champion and opener Rohit Sharma, who had to walk off retired hurt in the sixth over.
RCB won their third game in four matches and moved up to six points and the third spot in the points table behind Rajasthan Royals (8) and Punjab Kings (7).
The Mumbai Indians started their chase of 241 on a bright note with Ryan Rickelton, who started with a six off Jacob Duffy in the opening over, and Rohit Sharma raising 50 runs for the team in the fifth over.
The five-time champions reached 62 for no loss in the six overs of Power-play, but the dugout was not that happy as former captain Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt because of a hamstring injury, for which he received treatment on the ground.
He was batting on 19 in the sixth over when he decided to return to the dugout and receive more treatment.
