Mumbai: Suryakumar Yadav’s successive half century and an all-round performance from Hardik Pandya powered Mumbai Indians (MI) to a 13-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), keeping them in play-offs contention in the IPL-XI here Sunday.
Yadav (59, 39b, 7×4, 2×6) continued his rich run with a fourth fifty of the tournament before Pandya (35 n o, 20b, 4×4, 1×6) plundered the KKR attack to nudge the hosts to 181 for four. Yadav’s opening partner Evin Lewis (45, 28b, 5×4, 2×6) too made a valuable contribution in the 91-run stand.
KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik (36 n o, 26b, 5×4, 1×6) tried his best to get his team over the line but was unable to do so after the visitors needed 60 runs off the last 30 balls. By the final over, KKR needed 23 runs and Krunal Pandya (1/29) defended them comfortably with the innings ending at 168 for six. Robin Uthappa’s (54, 35b, 6×4, 3×6) first fifty plus score of the competition also went in vain.
It was another much needed win for slow starters Mumbai, who had beaten KXIP Friday. They remain in fifth spot in the standings with eight points, having earned their fourth win in 10 games. KKR, on the other hand, remain in the top-four with 10 points after their fifth loss in 10 matches.
Chasing a stiff 182, KKR lost both the openers Chris Lynn (17) and Shubhman Gill (7) quickly, leaving them at 28 for two. Then Nitish Rana (31) and Uthappa resurrected the innings with an 84-run stand. After Uthappa’s and Rana’s dismissal, the asking rate went up steeply and the target proved to be too much. For Mumbai Hardik (2/19) was the pick of the bowlers while Markande, Bumrah, Krunal and Mitchell McClenaghan picked up a wicket each.
Earlier, Mumbai openers Yadav and Lewis set the platform for a challenging total with a 82 runs stand for the first wicket. A late cameo by Hardik helped the three-time champions cross the 180-run-mark. Andre Russell (2/12) and Sunil Narine (2/35) were the pick of the bowlers for KKR.
Brief scores: MI 181/4 (Suryakumar Yadav 59, Evin Lewis 43; Andre Russell 2/12) beat KKR 168/6 (Robin Uthappa 54, Dinesh Karthik 36 n o; Hardik Pandya 2/19) by 13 runs.
press trust of india
