While KKR’s batsmen struggled with the game plan and were dismissed for just 169, Venkatesh IyerThe 70-run mark was an outstanding performance, with Mumbai Indians’ underperforming batsmen faltering on a challenging wicket that required skill and patience. Their season within a tough season for Hardik Pandya.
The victory marked KKR’s first away win in Mumbai in 12 years and was reminiscent of their last win at this venue when their boss Shah Rukh Khan faced a Three years ban.
KKR won the trophy that year and their latest victory takes them to 14 points, qualifying them for the top two spots in the tournament.
although Suryakumar YadavIn a brilliant fifty, Mumbai Indians were bowled out for 145 in 18.5 overs chasing 170 and once again found the bat wanting as Mitchell Stark (3.5-0-33-4) cleaned up the tail end for KKR’s seventh win in 10 matches.
Until he got the top off a full toss from Andre Russell (2/30), Suryakumar seemed to prove the difference between the sides with quality knocks , pulled MI back from the edge.
With six fours and two sixes, Suryakumar made 56 off 35 balls in his innings to keep MI’s hopes alive.
Suryakumar also brought the score down enough for his team to cross the line after reducing the deficit to 71/6 at one point.
But none of the MI batsmen raised their hands and KKR won the match with a string of wickets towards the end.
Equally impressive was KKR’s spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, who created the same 4-0-22-2 formation, Keeping the MI batsmen motivated.
After hitting six and four off Starc, Ishan Kishan (13) missed the connection in a fierce lift, causing the Australian to knock him off his leg stump.
Naman Dhir (11) hit two fours in the first instance but he also appeared for a lift but Chakravarthy missed the ball in his first delivery .
Rohit Sharma (11), a rushing substitute, bowled Starc for six at extra cover, but when he was pulled off Narine On a short shot, he failed to catch the ball well.
Manish Pandey Moved back quite a bit on the power play, lowering MI to 46.
Chakravarthy ensured MI’s most successful batsman this year’s brief stay in the middle order when he had Tilak Varma (4) caught at short third man by Narine (Narine) Catch.
The flow of wickets pushed MI on the back foot and the pressure led to further success when Nehal Wadhera (6) chipped a ball off Narine into his wicket.
MI captain and Indian team vice-captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup Hardik Pandya was loudly booed again at home Wankhede Stadium Only to be outpaced by the seemingly awkward pace.
Pandya’s innings lasted just two balls as he too, like a few others, started his delivery early, which produced an easy-to-catch upper edge.
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders’ attack failed on a sluggish surface as they were bowled out for a paltry 169 despite Venkatesh Iyer’s half-century.
Venkatesh scored 70 runs off 52 balls but his selfish attitude in trying to protect his wicket at the expense of enforcer Russell undoubtedly cost the team co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan 20 runs but in the end And it didn’t come at a high price.
Veteran Pandey took 42 off 31 balls in his 83-run stand for the sixth wicket with Venkatesh.
Like the number one player was eliminated before the total reached 60 points, the last five games resulted in just 29 points as Jasprit Bumrah (3/18 in 3.5 overs) Too hot to handle his toe crusher in death.
On a two-pace wicket, the batting was slower than expected and the KKR batsmen made the mistake of rushing the ball and not reading the trajectory well before formulating a plan.
As a result, half of them went back to the cabin without any important chess pieces on the power play.
Rinku Singh (9) also squandered an opportunity with the bat after the explosive top order was dismissed, forcing KKR to turn to experienced Pandey as an impact substitute for relief.
(Inputs from PTI)
