Pandya sets up Mumbai’s win
Mumbai Indians huffed and puffed their way to a five-run victory in their last home game against Kolkata Knight Riders here at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Powered by Hardik Pandya’s 31-ball 61, the home team defended 171 in a tense chase to keep their hopes of a playoff berth alive. The loss ended KKR’s three-match winning streak and they now face Rajasthan Royals in a crucial game on Friday.
Needing 21 from 12 balls, Yusuf Pathan (52 from 37) anchoring KKR’s chase struck a six off Malinga’s penultimate over that fetched nine runs to bring the equation down to 12 from the final over. Entrusted with the responsibility to take his side home, Kieron Pollard struck first ball to remove Yusuf, but a misfield by Malinga resulted in four runs the next ball. A wide followed by a dot left KKR with six to get off the final ball.
A calm Pollard bowled then bowled his third dot ball on the trot as Mumbai managed to secure two points.
The visitors were going steady with both Gambhir and Robin Uthappa batting without much risk against the fast bowlers. It was then that Rohit introduced Harbhajan Singh in the sixth over which turned things around. Greeted with a six off the first ball, the senior off-spinner had Uthappa caught at short fine leg on the third ball.
One ball later Manish Pandey was run-out thanks to a direct hit from Lendl Simmons. Yusuf Pathan then joined his captain and the two took the team to 74/2 at the half way stage. Mumbai’s second specialist spinner Jagdisha Suchith picked up a timely wicket in the 11th over when Gambhir (38), dropped on the fifth ball by Pandya, was cleaned up the next ball. Kolkata were helped by a 30-run stand between Yusuf and Shakib Al Hasan for the fourth wicket. Pandya was in thick of the action again as Shakib hit a short ball from Vinay Kumar straight to him, but this time the Baroda youngster did not err.
Earlier, Pandya starred in an important 92-run fifth stand wicket stand with Kieron Pollard (33 from 38 balls) after the home team were reduced to 79/4 in the 12 over.