Picture Credit : BCCI
Opener Suryakumar who has been in terrific form in this year’s edition and finally a good all- round show by Hardik Pandya helped Mumbai Indians to a 13-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders, keeping them in play-offs hunt.
Yadav was exhausted while batting in the Mumbai afternoon heat (59 off 39) and later on Pandya (35* off 20) plundered the KKR attack help Mumbai post a competitive 181 for 4. Skipper Rohit Sharma once again filed to fire as he fell for only 11. Sharma has as of now scored only two fifty plus scores in IPL 2018.
Opener Evin Lewis (45 off 28) featured the 91-run first wicket stand. At one point it looked that Mumbai would cross 200 plus . BUT KKR pegged them back with some tight bowling in the searing Mumbai heat. Russell (2-12) and Narine (2-35) were the pick of the bowlers for KKR.
Chasing a stiff 182, KKR lost both the openers Chris Lynn (17) and Shubhman Gill (7) quickly, leaving them struggling at 28 for two.
KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik (36* off 26) tried his best to get his team after the visitors needed 60 runs off the last 30 balls.
Robin Uthappa finally scored a big one but that was not enough (54 off 35). He fell at a time when KKR needed him to anchor the innings as he was well set. KKR finally finished at 168 /6 in 20 overs
Mumbai are in fifth spot in the standings with eight points, having earned their fourth win in 10 games. While KKR , remain in the top-four with 10 points after their fifth loss in 10 matches.
