IPL 2018: Highlights of Match 37 & 38 with Points Table as of 6th May

Vs

Match 37:Match Basics

Mumbai Indians 1st innings total:  181/4 (20 Overs, RR: 9.05)

Performers:

·         Batting: SA Yadav 59 off 39 balls, Evan Lewis 43 off 28 balls, Hardik Pandya 35* off 20 balls.

·         Bowling: Sunil Narine 2/35 in 4 overs, Andre Russell 2/12 in 2 overs

Target:  182 runs from 12 overs.

Kolkata Knight Riders 2nd innings total:  168/6 (20 Overs, RR: 8.4)

Performers:

·         Batting:  Robin Uthappa 54 off 35 balls, Nitish Rana 31 off 27 balls, Dinesh Karthik 36* off 26 balls.

·         Bowling: Hardik Pandya 2/19 in 4 overs, M Markande 1/25 in 3 overs.

Result:   Mumbai Indians won by 13 runs.

Man of the Match: Hardik Pandya

Highlights:

·         Kolkata Knight Riders had lost 6 consecutive games to Mumbai Indians since IPL 2015. However, they looked to set that record straight by cashing on their winning form against Mumbai who had to win this match.

·         So, Kolkata won the toss in Wankhede and elected to field first. Mumbai’s in-form openers Evan Lewis and SA Yadav gave a blasting start to Mumbai as they attacked KKR bowlers with full force.

·         However, after their 91-run stand was broken by Andre Russell, Mumbai couldn’t carry on the momentum as KKR took regular wickets at key moments.

·         But, nevertheless Hardik Pandya’s sensible batting allowed Mumbai to post a competitive total of 181 runs on the scoreboard.

·         As, for KKR bowlers apart from Andre Russell and Sunil Narine no KKR bowler was impressive today and Mumbai cashed on them quite efficiently.

·         It was KKR’s turn now to bat and chase down 182 runs in 20 overs. It wasn’t going to be easy as Mumbai had a strong bowling line-up in place.

·         KKR should have sent Sunil Narine to open the innings however, they did a grave mistake to send Shubham Gill up the order with Chris Lynn.

·         This was a flop decision as both Lynn and Gill departed in two consecutive deliveries as Mumbai looked to put their foot on KKR’s throat.

·         But, then a solid partnership between Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana eased things up and the match was now evenly competitive.

·         But, Mumbai was playing for their life as a loss would mean they are knocked out of IPL. So, they gave it all on the field and got regular wickets in return.

·         After KKR’s trump card Russell got out, it all come down to KKR’s captain Dinesh Karthik and Sunil Narine to score 23 off the last over.

·         But, Krunal Pandya managed to hold off these two batsmen as Mumbai won the match by 13 runs and kept their hopes alive in this tournament.

  Rajasthan Royals Vs Kings XI Punjab

Match 38:Match Basics

Rajasthan Royals 1st innings total:  152/9 (20 Overs, RR: 7.6)

Performers:

·         Batting: Jose Buttler 51 off 39 balls, Sanju Samson 28 off 23 balls, S Gopal 24 off 16 balls.

·         Bowling: R Ashwin 1/30 in 4 overs, Mujeeb Ur Rehman 3/27 in 4 overs, AJ Tye 2/24 in 4 overs, AR Patel 1/21 in 4 overs.

Target:  153 runs from 20 overs.

Kings XI Punjab 2nd innings total:  155/4 (18.4 Overs, RR: 8.3)

Performers:

·         Batting:  Karun Nair 31 off 23 balls, Lokesh Rahul 84* off 54 balls, Marcus Stoinis 23 off 16 balls.

·         Bowling: K Gowtham 3/18 in 3 overs, Ben Stokes 1/22 in 3 overs.

Result:   Kings XI Punjab won by 6 wickets.

Man of the Match: KL Rahul

Highlights:

·         With decent bowling and an explosive batting line-up, KXIP faced the Rajasthan Royals who needed a win to rise from the bottom of the table.

·         So, the toss was won by KXIP and they elected to field first. The Rajasthan Royals looked to forget their batting troubles and hoped for a better start by their openers.

·         But, that did not happen as KXIP spinners Axar Patel and the captain Ashwin struck in their first overs to send Short and Rahane back to the pavilion.

·         However, a solid partnership between Sanju Samson and Jose Buttler steadied the Royals innings as they eyed a decent total.

·         But, Samson got out, KXIP bowlers struck at regular intervals and no batsman other than Gopal could hold their ground as KXIP scored 152 runs in 20 overs.

·         This was a below par total and Royals would now have to bowl quite exceptionally if they wanted to retain a powerful KXIP batting line-up.

·         But, it Royals had the intent to win this match as they showed their bowling might by taking quick wickets to unsettle KXIP batting line-up.

·         The Royals had the upper hand in the first overs but KL Rahul and Karun Nair shared a good partnership to shift the momentum in KXIP’s favor for some time.

·         After Nair got out, Axar Patel closely followed and it was now up to Stoinis and Rahul to win this match for KXIP.

·        Although, Royals restricted these two batsmen for some time, but Rahul went in the 17^th over as he finished the match in the 19^thover and remained unbeaten with 84.

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