Mumbai beat Kolkata by 49 runs in IPL
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Sept 24, (AP): Title-holders Mumbai Indians earned an emphatic 49-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday to collect their first points in the Indian Premier League.
Captain Rohit Sharma’s blistering knock of 80 off 54 balls propelled Mumbai to 195-5 after Kolkata skipper
Dinesh Karthik continued the trend of fielding first in this year’s IPL after winning the toss.
Kolkata fell apart in their run chase against a three-pronged Mumbai pace attack with Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult and James Pattinson all claiming two wickets each and restricting the opposition to 146-9.
Pat Cummins, batting at No. 8, topscored with 33 as Kolkata kept losing wickets at regular intervals against Mumbai’s fast bowlers and never looked to challenge the big target.
India’s premier fast bowler Bumrah sealed the game for Mumbai in the 16th over when he claimed the wickets of big hitters Eoin Morgan (16) and Andre Russell (11).
Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav (47 off 28 balls) laid the foundation for a big Mumbai total with a 90-run second wicket stand off 57 balls.
Yadav got Mumbai going by hitting seamer Sandeep Warrier for four boundaries in only the third over of the innings and Sharma smacked two sixes in Cummins’ first over. Cummins, who finished his quarantine only on Wednesday, was completely off color and conceded 49 runs off three overs.
Yadav got run out in the 11th over while attempting a second run but Sharma stayed until the 18th over before holing out to long-on after hitting six sixes and three fours.
Karthik made 30 off 23 balls but played a reckless slog sweep against spinner Rahul Chahar just at the halfway mark and left Kolkata struggling at 71-3.