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Mumbai: Mumbai Indians sealed a thrilling five-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
After MI put up 171, KKR were involved in a tense run-chase with momentum swinging through the course.
Yusuf Pathan held his calm through the storm and went on to score an important fifty It went into the last over with 12 needed. Kieron Pollard was handed the ball and he dismissed Pathan off the first ball. It was tense finish thereafter as it boiled down to the final ball, with Piyush Chawla needing six. Chawla missed it and MI stayed alive in the IPL 2015.
Chasing 172 to win, KKR started well with Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir putting up a good stand upfront. However, they then lost wickets at regular intervals. There were quite a few cameos but they failed to find those big partnerships.
The best partnership of KKR was between the openers as they put up 45. Uthappa, Gambhir and Shakib Al Hasan managed good starts but did not convert them into big scores. Thus, it was then left to Pathan to do the trick.
Suryakumar Yadav also chipped in with a quick cameo. With 42 needed off the last four overs, Vinay Kumar was smashed around to help KKR get back in the game.
MI still managed to hit back, but Pathan kept his cool. He got to his fifty with a huge six off Malinga over mid-wicket. However, KKR lost the plot there with Chawla missing six out of the seven deliveries he faced in the game.
KKR had put MI in to bat and they found themselves in trouble as they were 79 for four in the 12th over. Sunil Narine had gotten rid of Rohit Sharma with a fantastic wrong-un that squared him up.
In that situation, Hardik Pandya walked in and played a blinder. The young man had impressed during the game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), when his three sixes off Pawan Negi in the penultimate over to win MI the game.
KKR’s tight bowling was led by Morne Morkel and Shakib Al Hasan’s spells. Once they were done, Pandya found his chance to unleash his array of strokes.
At the other end, Pollard ambled to a 37-ball 32, which was quite an uncharacteristic innings by his standards. In the 92-run stand between Pandya and Pollard, it was the youngster who dazzled.
Brief scores
Mumbai Indians - 171/4 (Pandya 61*, Pollard 33*, Rohit 30, Shakib 2-22)
Kolkata Knight Riders - 166/7 (Pathan 52, Gambhir 38)
Result - Mumbai Indians won by 5 runs
Points - Mumbai Indians 2, Kolkata Knight Riders 0
MOM - Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
