Sanju knock sets up RR win
JAIPUR: Krishnappa Gowtham smashed a 11-ball 33 in a stunning final flourish after Sanju Samson’s steady half-century to pull Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians lost five wickets for 32 runs in the end after fifties from Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan to be restricted to 167/7 after electing to bat. Royals finished on 168/7, Gowtham smashing a six to win it with two balls to spare.
Sanju Samson (52 – 39b, 4x4) and Ben Stokes (40 – 27b, 3x4, 1x6) guided the chase after Mumbai Indians spinner Krunal Pandya removed Rahul Tripathi, promoted to open, and skipper Ajinka Rahane (14) was caught off Mitchell Mcclenaghan.
The 72-run third wicket stand between Samson and Stokes ended when Hardik Pandya foxed the England all-rounder with a clever leg-stump yorker. Jasprit Bumrah swung the game towards MI as he removed Samson and bowled Jos Buttler (6) with Mustafizur Rahman accounting for Heinrich Klassen (0).
However, Gowtham hammered 18 runs in the 19th over bowled by Bumrah before sealing victory in the final over.
Gowtham’s cameo and Samson’s fifty complemented the effort of the bowlers, who
checked Mumbai Indians’ innings after fifties from Suryakumar Yadav (72) and Ishan Kishan (58).