IPL 2021 5th Match
Mumbai Indians 152 in 20 Overs (Suriya Kumar Yadav 53, Rohit Sharma 43, Andre Russel 5/15, Pat Cummins 2/24)
Kolkata Knight Riders 142/7 (Nitish Rana 57, Shubman Gill 33, Rahul Chahar 4/27, Trent Boult 2/27)
MI Won by 10 Runs
Player of the Match: Rahul Chahar.
Kolkata Knight Riders did have only 153 runs to chase after a dramatic collapse of Mumbai Indians loosing 7 for 37 in 34 deliveries led them getting bundled out for below par score. They were well on course at 122/3 in the 15th over. But brain freeze of the middle order and great bowling by all MI bowlers choked them to 142 /7.
Nitish Rana, Shakib, Russel all tried playing big strokes. There was no pressure of run rate. Run a ball could led KKR cruising. Chahar bowled brilliantly taking 4/ 27. MI had a great escape of winning their second match by 10 runs. Mumbai Indians showed yet again why having several bowling options and two great pace bowlers bowling smart at death overs can make the difference. Bumrah and Boult either bowled wide Yorkers or varied the pace at the death overs giving no room for KKR stroke makers taking any liberty. KKR lost too many wickets trying to hurry sensing that taking runs on two paced wickets at the death against two of the best bowlers would not be easy. Morgan, Shakib, Russel and Kartik for not rotating and strokes and trying big strokes at times when playing sensibly could let them win easy. Morgan, Shakib, Russell and Karthik failing to earn their team easy win playing smart cricket instead of panicking was unpardonable.
Morgan winning the toss put Mumbai Indians to bat. Varun struck early blow getting rid of Quinton de Cock. Scoring run on the wicket was not easy. Ball was stooping and gripping. Still then Rohit Sharma and Suriyakumar Yadav batted with passion. Their 2nd wicket partnership produced 74 very useful runs. Yadav playing wonderfully well scored 56 in only 36 deliveries striking 7 fours and 2 sixes. Shakib bowling tight got rid of Yadab. His fall triggered a mini collapse as Cummins removed Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma in quick succession. . KKR X-factor Russell appeared on the scene and within the space of two overs changed the entire complexion of the match taking the last 5 wickets for 15 runs. MI actually lost their last 7 wickets 37 runs.
The target of 153 for a reasonably strong KKR batting did not look a monumental task at all. Nitish Rana (57) and Shubman Gill (33) setting up 72 runs opening partnership still easier. Sensible batting could take them get across. But unfortunately, other than them none of 7 other batsmen (Tripathi, Morgan, Shakib, Karthik, Russel, Cummins and Harbhajan) could even reach double figures. 7 batsmen together contributed 40 runs. Off course leg spinner Rahul Chahar bowled brilliantly taking 4 /27. But KKR batsmen looked panicked and tried to hurry. In the death overs Bumrah and Boult showed why they are rated so high in world cricket as match winning bowlers. They squeezed KKR varying pace and bowling deadly Yorkers.
Shakib had an opportunity to prove to many that he can be a match winner. But he threw it away like Morgan, Russel and Tripathi. Mumbai can consider them very lucky in the sense that they could even after a dramatic collapse of their own batting.
The match was in the grip of KKR. They manner in which they lost with several batsmen throwing away their wickets can raise genuine doubt about the fairness of the match. Let us not take away due credit in which MI squeezed KKR. Chahar proved why quality leg spinners these days can turn any match upside down in any format.
BDST: 1117 HRS, APR 14, 2021
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