Pace ace scalps 5/21 before Mumbai batters make short work of 197-run target vs RCB
MUMBAI: When two of the best in the business square-off against each other, all eyes are focused on the action in the middle, the anticipation of who trumps who is at the back of everyone's mind.
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On Thursday, that moment arrived in the third over of the Mumbai Indians versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru match.
At one end was Jasprit Bumrah, in the form of his life. At the other was Virat Kohli, who's T20 credentials are under the scanner and the sole focus is giving his team a bright start. But a dot ball and a close leg-before appeal later Bumrah had Kohli's number.
Kohli was 3 from 8 balls when he tried to pull Bumrah, but the length wasn't short enough, and he could only edge it to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.
That Kohli had got off to a slow start and with the pressure of upping the ante piling up, he decided to take on Bumrah-a wrong option considering how accurately the right-arm pacer has bowled this season. It resulted in his downfall. Bumrah ended up with figures of 5-21-his second five-wicket haul in IPL-but RCB still ended up scoring 196-8 thanks to half-centuries from skipper Faf du Plessis (61, 40b; 4x3, 3x6), Rajat Patidar (50, 26b, 3x4, 4x4) and Dinesh Karthik (53, 23b; 5x4, 4x6).
But on a placid wicket like the Wankhede and RCB's brittle bowling line-up, the target was always going to be a challenging one rather than a match-winning one. In the end, MI batters made a mockery of it by chasing it down in 15.3 overs and with seven wickets to spare.
The carnage was started by Ishan Kishan (69, 34b; 7x4, 5x6) and Rohit Sharma (38, 24b; 3x4, 3x6) as their 101-run opening stand off just 53 balls snuffed the life out of the match. After that it was just a matter of how soon MI will chase down the target.
Things haven't gone well for Ishan since he returned midway through the South Africa tour last year and has dropped down the pecking order for the wicketkeeper's spot in the Indian team. But ahead of the T20 World Cup team selection, he served a timely reminder of the power he possesses as he hammered the hapless RCB bowlers around the park. He hit five sixes and seven fours during his knock and in the process became the first MI batter to score a half-century in powerplay twice.
Ishan headed back to the pavilion after scoring at a strike-rate of 202.94 but what followed was intense power hitting by MI batters.
Suryakumar Yadav-playing only his second match after returning from an injury-had got out for a duck in the last match against Delhi Capitals but he was in no mood to take it easy against RCB. By the time he was back in the pavilion, he had notched up 52 of just 19 balls-with five fours and four sixes-at a strike-rate of 273.68.
Skipper Hardik Pandya was welcomed to the crease to another round of booing after Rohit's dismissal, but he soon turned them into cheers when he hit the first ball, he faced for a six over long-on. Pandya (21*, 6b; 3x6) and Tilak Varma (16*, 10b; 3x4) added the finishing touches to the proceedings to take MI home with ease.
1/9:Mumbai Indians thump Royal Challengers Bengaluru
<p>Mumbai Indians thump Royal Challengers Bengaluru</p>AFP
2/9:A starry reunion
<p>The electrifying contest witnessed passionate cheers for stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with intermittent boos for MI skipper Hardik Pandya.</p>AFP
3/9:Bumrah's Magical Spell
<p>Jasprit Bumrah's magical five-wicket haul dismantled RCB's batting lineup, stifling their run-scoring and paving the way for Mumbai Indians' dominant performance with the ball.</p>AFP
4/9:Karthik's Late Blitz
<p>Dinesh Karthik's late blitz, accompanied by crucial contributions from Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar, propelled RCB to a challenging total of 196/8.</p>AFP
5/9:Rohit and Kishan's Partnership
<p>Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan's explosive partnership of 101 runs off 53 balls for the first wicket laid a solid foundation for Mumbai Indians' emphatic victory, leaving RCB struggling to contain the onslaught.</p>AFP
6/9:Sensational SKY
<p>Suryakumar Yadav's scintillating 52 off 19 deliveries, adorned with four sixes and five fours, showcased his exquisite strokeplay as Mumbai Indians cruised past RCB's imposing target in just 15.3 overs.</p>AFP
7/9:Kishan's Explosive Innings
<p>Ishan Kishan's explosive knock of 69 runs off just 34 balls, embellished with seven boundaries and five towering sixes, set the tone for Mumbai Indians' chase, leaving RCB's bowlers reeling.</p>AFP
8/9:Mumbai Indians' Dominant Victory
<p>Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan led the charge with electrifying batting performances, propelling Mumbai Indians to a commanding seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru.</p>AFP
