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Mumbai: Defending champions Mumbai Indians opener and skipper Rohit Sharma played a steady knock of 68, while Kieron Pollard‘s cameo knock of 51*, propelled MI to a healthy six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders, in Match 24 of the ongoing IPL at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
Earlier, MI skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first, as KKR finished on a challenging total of 174 for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs, courtesy of a regulation innings from KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir of 59 runs, while Tim Southee claimed a couple for wickets for MI for 38 runs.
Unlike KKR, MI were off to a shaky start during their chase, as with just nine runs on the board, it was opener Parthiv Patel, who fell for a mere single to Umersh Yadav, after being caught by Yusuf Pathan in the second over.
However, it was followed by a steady 59-run stand between opener Rohit and Ambati Rayudu, as Rohit contributed 25, while Rayudu contributed 32 runs in the stand. Both the batsmen played a powerful innings as they reached about 70 runs in just the opening six overs.
However, it was in the seventh over, when Rayudu fell for a healthy 32 to Shakib Al Hasan, after being caught by Suryakumar Yadav.
Following his dismissal, it was Krunal Panndya, who came in and Rohit also brought up his half-century in 36 balls, that included five boundaries and a couple of sixes.
Nevertheless, as the score ticked 78 in the ninth over, it was Krunal, who fell for mere six to the mystery spinner Sunil Narine.
It was followed by a steady 28-run stand between Rohit and Jos Buttler, as Buttler too departed for just 15 in the 13th over, after he was brilliantly caught by Chris Lynn off Narine again.
Nevertheless, it was the pair of Rohit and Kieron Pollard, who played the match-winning innings together, as they contributed a mammoth 72-run stand.
Pollard too brought up his half-century off just 17 deliveries, including a couple of boundaries and six sixes, along with a strike rate of 300, that sealed the fate of MI, as they comfortably won the game by six wickets, with 12 balls to spare.
Brief scores
Kolkata Knight Riders - 174/5 (Gambhir 59, Uthappa 36)
Mumbai Indians - 178/4 (Rohit 68*, Pollard 51*, Rayudu 32)
Result - Mumbai Indians won by 6 wickets
