Rohit helps Mumbai to first win
CAPTAIN’S KNOCK Skipper Rohit Sharma hits 94 to help Mumbai beat Bangalore by 46 runs, Virat left stranded at 92
Mumbai Indians (MI) produced an all-round show to maintain their dominance over RCB in IPL, registering a commanding 46-run victory.
Rohit Sharma smacked 94 and Evin Lewis stroked his way to a fine 65, as the two added 108 runs for the third wicket to help Mumbai Indians put up a daunting 213/6 after RCB captain Virat Kohli won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first here.
In reply, RCB, who made three changes that included bringing in Corey Anderson in place of Brendon McCullum, lost wickets in clump and ended up losing to Mumbai Indians for the 14th time in their 22 meetings. Mumbai Indians have been unbeaten against RCB since IPL 2016.
Kohli remained not out on 92 off 62 balls (7x4 and 4x6) as RCB scored 167/8 in their 20 overs.
It all began when Umesh Yadav’s twin strikes in the first two balls of the contest brought Rohit and Lewis together. They not only steered Mumbai Indians out of trouble but added 108 runs for the third wicket, putting Mumbai on course for a big total.
Even though Krunal Pandya (15) and Kieron Pollard (5) did not provide enough support to Rohit towards the end, Hardik Pandya used a DRS review against a caught-behind appeal to hammer two sixes and a four to score a five-ball 17 not out, which took Mumbai beyond 200-run mark.
Lewis was characteristically brutal, whereas Rohit took his time to open up. The Mumbai Indians’ captain had a special liking for Kiwi all-rounder Anderson, off whom he smacked eight fours and a six from his grand total of 10 fours and five sixes.
Rohit came close to completing his century when he picked up 14 runs in the final over off Anderson, but he was caught at long-on.
RCB began in a brisk manner when Kohli and Quinton de Kock added 40 runs off the first four overs, but Mitchell McClenaghan — who had replaced Akila Dhananjaya — claimed two wickets to rock their boat. De Kock was cleaned up for 19 and AB de Villiers pulled a short ball straight to Hardik, which meant RCB’s hopes of a fightback were over.