XtraTime Web Desk: Thanks to a brilliant performances by Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya (Pandya brothers) Mumbai Indians have beaten Kolkata Knight Riders by 13 runs at the Wankhede Stadium today to keep their play-off hopes alive. While chasing a target of 182 runs to win KKR could only manage to score 168 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
Earlier after sent in to bat first by the hosts, Mumbai got off to a flier as Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis started the attack early. Kolkata bowlers could not get an early breakthrough and the batsmen maintained the dominant position throughout. The runs were flowing with around 10 per over. KKR got their first breakthrough in the 10th over as Russell took the wicket of Lewis on a slower delivery.
The home side were on 95/1 at the end of 10 overs. Suryakumar Yadav reached his fifty, where as skipper Rohit Sharma failed again as he was caught after scoring just 11 runs. Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were taking the innings ahead. Russell removed Suryakumar in the 15th over. The run rate gone down a bit but Mumbai had enough overs left to bring it back on track. The remaining batsmen added runs for the team and took the total to 181 after 20 overs.
KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik (36* off 26) tried his best to get his team over the line but was unable to after the visitors needed 60 runs off the last 30 balls.
By the final over, KKR needed 23 runs and Krunal Pandya defended them comfortably with the innings ending at 168 for six. Robin Uthappa’s (54 off 35) 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 on 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 Rana and Uthappa, who got a life on 4′, resurrected the innings with an 84-run stand. They hammered spinners Pandya and Mayank Markande as the two amassed 30 runs in just two overs. Uthappa, who was dropped by Markande, smashed him for two consecutive sixes.
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.