Kolkata: Rohit Sharma led by example with a spectacular unbeaten half century at his happy hunting Eden Gardens to inspire defending champions Mumbai Indians to a clinical six-wicket win over Kolkata Kninght Riders in the Indian Premier League match on Wednesday.
Chasing a stiff target of 188 runs , Rohit’s exquisite stroke-making reduced it to a no contest as he brilliantly unraveled Kolkata Knight Riders three-spin puzzle en route to 84 not out from 54 balls (10×4, 2×6) to script the chase with five balls to spare.
At a venue where he has centuries in the all three formats beside his epic ODI world record 264, Sharma could not take a wrong foot and looked in imperious form since he kick started with a third ball six against Russell.
Jos Buttler (41 from 22 balls; 3×4, 3×6) and Mitchell McClenaghan (20 from eight balls; 3×6) made useful contributions in the successful run chase.
There was a time when Mumbai Indians were in a spot with 101 required from 59 balls with Sharma approaching his half century as KKR kept on attacking with their spin strategy.
In a tactical masterstroke MI think-tank promoted the left-handed New Zealand all-rounder McClenaghan who turned it around with two successive sixes against Chawla and followed it up with another slog over midwicket against the rookie Yadav.
Sharma also found a fine support from the Englishman Buttler who hit Russell for two sixes and one four in a 18-run 16th over to reduce it to a no-contest.
After Buttler’s departure in the third ball of the penultimate over, Sharma hit Russell for three boundaries in succession to make it one required from the last over a formality Kieron Pollard completed to bring the defending champions campaign back on track.
With six away games in waiting, it’s a disappointing loss for Kolkata Knight Riders who surprised by preferring young chinaman Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Sunil Narine.
Earlier, half centuries from skipper Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey lifted Kolkata Knight Riders to 187/5.The Knight Riders captain who got two reprieves on 30 and 55 runs went on to score 64 from 52 balls (4×4, 1×6) before perishing to a top edge. Gambhir got a fine support from talented youngster Manish Pandey who scored a rollicking 52 from 29 balls to set the momentum in a 100-run partnership from 60 balls.
After Pandey’s departure, Andre Russell played a nice cameo of 36 runs from 17 balls studded with four sixes and one four as KKR with 163/2 in 17 overs were on course for a 200-total but the Knights could manage just 24 runs and lost three wickets in last three overs as MI pulled back in the death.
The defending champions made three changes to their XI that lost by nine wickets to debutants Pune Supergiants by bringing in Tim Southee, J Suchith and Parthiv Patel in place of Lendl Simmons, R Vinay Kumar and Shreyas Gopal.
Kolkata Knight Riders opted to give Sunil Narine some rest after joining the team last night as they picked Kuldeep Yadav in place of Umesh Yadav making it a three-spin line up with Brad Hogg and Piyush Chawla.