Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) making 165 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, managed to defeat the Mumbai Indians (MI) who had a score of 113 runs.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) seem to respond to the Mumbai Indians (MI) with a bowling display that can be termed as ‘ferocious’. This was backed up by fielding par excellence which led them to a comprehensive win by 52 runs.
Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer’s 43 was enough for a passable total of 165 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
The ‘heavyweights’ of the KKR team, Pat Cummins and Andre Russell managed to take the team to a place well deserved. Pat Cummins burst of energy got 3 wickets in his 3rd over.
Bumrah can Blitz the lower order of KKR
Bumrah was re-introduced after his solitary over. He had conceded only 5 runs. He returned at the time when the KKR team was at 136 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. What happened next was simply dynamite.
Bumrah opened with a ‘howling’ Yorker as accurate as possible. He managed to get Kieron Pollard and after only 3 balls he seemed to target Rana. Rana had managed to pick up his tempo by hitting four 6’s in only 8 balls. Bumrah was all set to handle him.
Bumrah’s 3rd over, 1st ball was fierce and fast. This ball rose to the flighty pull of Sheldon Jackson. Pat Cummins was welcomed with a ‘fizzing’ bouncer. One ball later he was sent back. A man who had managed 56 runs in only 15 balls could not tackle the bowling of Bumrah.
Cummins takes the cue
Cummins is considered to be the most ‘thoroughbred’ fast bowler of the KKR team. When he returned in the 15th over he had his very own ‘match-up’ on his mind.
After the demise of the captain and his partner, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan had managed his half century in 41 balls. Cummin managed to get his quarry the 4th time and Ishaan Kishan was gone. The KKR were 100 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
The chase was diverted from the cliff after 5 balls and 2 more wickets.
Iyer giving KKR their chance
Iyer had resolved to become forthright when he returned to the order’s top. This was at Baba Indrajith’s expense.
At that time it did not seem so, but the powerplay had managed the win for the KKR team. The opening gambit of Iyer was 6 off Ashwin, the leg spinner.
Karthikeya and Sams were targeted next for the 3rd and 4th six of Iyer. This kept the innings galloping. Rana managed to get the memo with a drive off the 2nd ball for a 4. The 6 over total was sealed on 64 runs for the loss of 1wicket. This was, supposedly, the best start of the KKR team in the competition. The MI team could barely manage twice of that total of a faltering display.
