IPL Playoffs: Mumbai quashes KKR, reaches finals

Krunal Pandya’s charismatic composure guided Mumbai Indians (MI) past Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) piddly total of 107, with six wickets in hand and 33 balls to spare.

Expected rains at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru were replaced by the tumbling KKR wickets and excellent spell of bowling from the MI bowlers. KKR, being put on to bat, bundled out for a mere 107 as Mumbai bowlers kept the screws tightened from the word go.

Mi’s chase, however, didn’t start as planned either as Piyush Chawla removed Lendl Simmons (3 of 6 balls) in the second over of the inning. Ambati Rayudu (6 of 11balls) was next to bite the dust as Chawla claimed another. Skipper Rohit Sharma (26 of 24 balls) combined with Krunal Pandya (45 not out of 30 balls) to revive the chase and the duo added 54 runs, of just 40 balls, for the fourth wicket.

Mumbai seemed to be easing past KKR’s total when Rohit Sharma’s wicket in the fag end of the chase, with Mumbai needing just 20 more runs to win, just about brought glitter of hopes in the KKR camp. Krunal Pandya, however, kept his composure in a tense situation, in a pressure match, and guided MI past the finishing line.

Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah and Karn Sharma sent half of KKR’s side back in the dugout for a paltry score of 31. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishank Jaggi looked to build on a partnership and together they added 46 runs for their side. Suryakumar Yadav top scored for his side with a fighting 31 of 25 balls and was supported by youngster Jaggi who scored 28 runs of 31 balls.

Man of the match, Karn Sharma, claimed four wickets conceding just 16 in his quota of four overs. Bumrah, too, bowled a magnificent spell giving just seven runs in three overs, picking up three wickets. Bumrah’s dismissals included that of talismanic Australian Opener Chris Lynn (4 of 8 balls), KKR’s second highest run getter in the tournament, Robin Uthappa (1 of 3 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav, the highest scorer for KKR in the match.

Mumbai will now have a mountain to climb in the finals as they face Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), who have defeated them thrice in the tournament so far. Out of the three defeats, two came in MI’s backyard, Wankhade Stadium. The final match of the 10th season of the Indian Premiere League is scheduled to be played on Sunday, May 21 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.