In a lopsided contest, Kolkata Knight Riders succumbed to Mumbai Indians at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
MI thrashed KKR by eight wickets inside 17 overs to move to the top of the table, even on points with Delhi Capitals but ahead on net run rate after eight games.
Signature shot
Chasing a target of 149, Quinton de Kock (78 not out, 44b, 9x4, 3x6) snatched the game away in a flash.
The South African executed classical cricketing shots, including his signature hook, to keep the scoreboard ticking. He found solid support in Rohit (35, 36b, 5x4, 1x6) and the partnership helped MI race to 51 without loss in the PowerPlay.
By the time Shivam Mavi dismissed Rohit, Mumbai only needed 55 off 57 balls.
Although Suryakumar Yadav did not get going, Hardik Pandya, promoted to No. 4, hastened the end with an 11-ball 21 not out (3x4, 1x6).
Disciplined effort
MI’s disciplined bowling effort had earlier restricted the Knight Riders to 148 for five.
KKR started cautiously before Suryakumar’s quick reflexes in the point region, which helped him pouch Rahul Tripathi off Trent Boult, set things rolling for the defending champion.
Nathan Coulter-Nile scalped Nitish Rana to finish the PowerPlay on a high.
It set the stage for leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, who called the shots in the middle overs by removing Shubman Gill and Dinesh Karthik, who had handed over the captaincy to Eoin Morgan in a bid to bat more freely. Gill and Karthik were dismissed off successive deliveries.
Bumrah nails Russell
Jasprit Bumrah then got the dangerous Andre Russell with a well-directed short ball to further hurt KKR’s chances.
Pat Cummins, who had smashed a 12-ball 33 against MI earlier this season, refused to give up the ghost, finishing with 53 not out (36b, 5x4, 2x6).
He added 87 runs off 57 balls for the sixth wicket with Morgan to save his side’s blushes.
But de Kock’s early assault quickly ended any hopes KKR may have had of making a match of it.
Scoreboard:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahul Tripathi c Suryakumar b Boult 7 (9b, 1x4), Shubman Gill c Pollard b Rahul Chahar 21 (23b, 2x4), Nitish Rana c de Kock b Coulter-Nile 5 (6b, 1x4), Dinesh Karthik b Rahul Chahar 4 (8b, 1x4), Eoin Morgan (not out) 39 (29b, 2x4, 2x6), Andre Russell c de Kock b Bumrah 12 (9b, 1x4, 1x6), Pat Cummins (not out) 53 (36b, 5x4, 2x6); Extras (lb-2, w-5): 7; Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs): 148.
Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Tripathi, 2.6), 2-33 (Rana, 5.3), 3-42 (Gill, 7.3), 4-42 (Karthik, 7.4), 5-61 (Russell, 10.4).
Mumbai Indians bowling: Boult 4-0-32-1, Coulter-Nile 4-0-51-1, Bumrah 4-0-22-1, Krunal 4-0-23-0, Rahul Chahar 4-0-18-2.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma c Karthik b Mavi 35 (36b, 5x4, 1x6), Quinton de Kock (not out) 78 (44b, 9x4, 3x6), Suryakumar Yadav b Varun 10 (10b, 1x4), Hardik Pandya (not out) 21 (11b, 3x4, 1x6); Extras (lb-5): 5; Total (for two wkts. in 16.5 overs): 149.
Fall of wickets: 1-94 (Rohit, 10.3), 2-111 (Suryakumar, 13.3).
Knight Riders bowling: Green 2.5-0-24-0, Cummins 3-0-28-0, Prasidh 2-0-30-0, Russell 2-0-15-0, Varun 4-0-23-1, Mavi 3-0-24-1.
Toss: KKR.
Man-of-the-Match: Quinton de Kock.
Mumbai Indians won by eight wickets with 3.1 overs to spare.
