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PICS: Rohit leads Mumbai Indians to big win over Kings

Last updated on: October 02, 2020 00:09 IST

Images from Thursday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, in Abu Dhabi.

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Rohit Sharma

IMAGE: Skipper Rohit Sharma’s 75 off 45 balls was the cornerstone of Mumbai Indians’s huge total in Thursday’s IPL match against Kings XI Punjab, in Abu Dhabi. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Mumbai Indians turned in a superb all-round showing with bat and ball to trounce Kings XI Punjab 48 runs in the IPL match, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.

Put in to bat, the defending champions overcame an early wobble thanks to brilliant batting by captain Rohit Sharma, and Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya in the late overs, to put up an imposing 191 for 4.

Kings XI opener Mayank Agarwal is bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.

IMAGE: Kings XI opener Mayank Agarwal is bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

In reply, Kings XI failed badly after the early departure of Mayank Agarwal (25), Karun Nair (0) and Lokesh Rahul (17) by the ninth over.

Even though Nicholas Pooran scored a breezy 44 off 27 balls in the middle overs, there was not much they could do against some accurate bowling by the Mumbai bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, who finished with figures of 2 for 18 in his four overs.

Krunal Pandya celebrates with Rohit Sharma after bowling Karun Nair.

IMAGE: Krunal Pandya celebrates with Rohit Sharma after bowling Karun Nair. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

He was ably supported by James Pattinson (2-28) and Rahul Chahar (2-26).

Trent Boult (1-42) and Krunal Pandya (1-27) took a wicket each as Mumbai convincingly registered their second victory in four matches and moved atop the league table.

Rahul Chahar celebrates the wicket of Kings XI skipper KL Rahul.

IMAGE: Rahul Chahar celebrates the wicket of Kings XI skipper KL Rahul. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Kings XI suffered their third defeat in four outings.

Earlier, Rohit's 75 off 45 balls, which included 8 fours and 3 sixes, was the cornerstone of Mumbai's huge total despite the early setbacks.

Kings XI Punjab pacer Sheldon Cottrell celebrates after crashing into the stumps of Mumbai Indians opener Quinton de Kock.

IMAGE: Kings XI Punjab pacer Sheldon Cottrell celebrates after crashing into the stumps of Mumbai Indians opener Quinton de Kock.. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Following the dismissal of opener Quinton de Kock (0) and Ishan Kishan, who failed to get going during his 32-ball 28, Rohit, who aggregated 5000 IPL runs with a glorious cover drive off his first stroke of the innings and joined Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in the elite club, took up the responsibility of accumulating runs before Kieron Pollard (47) and Hardik Pandya (30) blazed away in the final overs to swell the total.

Mumbai Indians had a disastrous start as Kings XI pacer Sheldon Cottrell cleaned up de Kock with the fifth delivery of the first over of the match. Looking to whip the out-swinging delivery, de Kock played all over and looked behind to find his stumps rattled.

Suryakumar Yadav fails to make his ground, run-out to an accurate hit by Mohammed Shami.

IMAGE: Suryakumar Yadav fails to make his ground, run-out to an accurate hit by Mohammed Shami. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

If that was not enough, Suryakumar Yadav was out in the fourth over, and Mumbai Indians just 21 for 2 on the board.

After two dots, Rohit played the ball down the ground and called for a tight single. Yadav was slow off the track and run-out by a superb direct hit at the stumps from Mohammed Shami. He was gone for 10.

Ishan Kishan struggled to get going

IMAGE: Ishan Kishan struggled to get going. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

The onus was on Rohit and Ishan to revive the innings. But, unlike the other night when he scored 99 off 58 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Ishan failed to get going. His struggle for 28 runs off 32 balls, including a four and a six, ended when his attempted slog-sweep down on one knee found Karun Nair at deep mid-wicket.

Karun Nair takes the catch to dismiss Ishan Kishan

IMAGE: Karun Nair takes the catch to dismiss Ishan Kishan. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Mumbai Indians were reeling 87 for three at the end of the 14th over, but upped the ante with Pollard and Rohit hitting a six each off leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi to collect 15 runs from the 15th over.

Rohit then scored 22 runs off the 16th over, bowled by James Neesham.

Kieron Pollard scored 47 off 20 balls to enable Mumbai Indians finish with a flourish.

IMAGE: Kieron Pollard scored 47 off 20 balls to enable Mumbai Indians finish with a flourish. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

After he was out, it was then left to the pair of Pollard and Hardik Pandya to provide the final flourish. They smashed fours and sixes at will, scoring 67 runs off only 25 balls.

19 came off the penultimate over and 18 off the 18th.

Mumbai then scored 25 runs in the final over, Pollard sending Krishnappa Gotham's last three deliveries into the stands.