While chasing a massive total you either need a great start in the powerplay or a big innings from someone at top. None of these happened for KKR as they never got on top of the asking rate in their chase of 196. No. 8 batsman Pat Cummins was the highest scorer for KKR and that is enough to tell about their plight with the bat. Cummins scored 33 thanks to four sixes in a single over from Bumrah who before that over had bowled three overs for just 5 runs. In his third over, he got both Russell- clean bowled– and Morgan- caught behind off roll-of-the-fingers slower ball, thereby ending any hope of win for Kolkata.
Only bright spot for Kolkata was when Karthik and Rana put on 46-run partnership for 3rd wicket but they could not convert their starts into something substantial. Karthik(30) was lbw off Chahar’s straighter one unable to connect to it in an attempt to sweep. Rana(24) holed out a Pollard delivery to deep cover where Hardik took a good running catch.
Mumbai innings
Dinesh Karthik won the toss and invited Rohit’s team to bat first. Quinton de Kock fell early as he mistimed his loft off Mavi. His replacement Surya Kumar Yadav began his scoring with four boundaries in an over from Warrier. Rohit Sharma too joined the party but he preferred aerial route over ground shots. In his innings of 80 off 54 balls he hit 3 boundaries and 6 massive sixes. He put on an exhibition of pull shots sailing well over over boundary ropes. Yadav got his 47 with 6 boundaries and a solitary six over extracover off Kuldeep. Their 90 run partnership was broken by an unfortunate run out as Yadav could not cover his ground trying to take a brisk couple.
MI could have got more runs but they could not finish on a high with regard to the platform provided for slog overs. With the fall of Rohit’s wicket- caught at long on off Mavi- Mumbai lost the momentum and could not hit any six in last three overs. Still given the nature of pitch and size of the stadium, it was a highly competitive total but in the end turned out to be too much for KKR. For Kolkata, their most expensive buy Cummins was most expensive on the field too- conceding 49 runs in 3 overs. KKR would hope that Cummins would soon find his rhythm and adapt to the low bounce pitches of UAE.
Rohit Sharma for his captain’s knock was adjudged Man of the Match. His 904 runs (@47.58) against KKR is highest by an individual against an opponent in IPL. This win also breaks the jinx for Mumbai as they have won the first game in seventh attempt in UAE.