Despite Corbin Bosch’s all-round effort, Mumbai suffer another flop show
Kolkata : Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kept their play-off hopes alive with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in a low-scoring contest at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. However, Kolkata still remain heavily dependent on other teams’ results to qualify. After losing their first six matches of the season, KKR have now won six of their last seven games. Mumbai, on the other hand, have suffered defeats in nine of their 13 matches.
Latest Play-off Scenario
Bengaluru, Gujarat and Hyderabad have already qualified for the play-offs. One among Rajasthan, Punjab, Chennai and Kolkata will claim the fourth and final spot. Delhi are almost out of contention. Mumbai and Lucknow, both with only eight points after losing nine of their 13 matches, are languishing at the bottom of the table and are officially out of the play-off race.
Manish Pandey named Player of the Match
Mumbai posted 147 for eight in 20 overs, thanks largely to Corbin Bosch’s 32-run contribution. Kolkata chased down the target with 148 for six in 18.5 overs, sealing victory with seven balls to spare. Manish Pandey (45 off 33 balls, 6 fours) was adjudged Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. Earlier, he had also taken a brilliant catch to dismiss Mumbai opener Ryan Rickelton.
Pandey-Powell partnership proves decisive
The 64-run fourth-wicket stand between Manish Pandey and Rovman Powell (40 off 30 balls, 2 sixes, 4 fours) proved decisive for Mumbai. Rinku Singh (9 not out) and Anukul Roy (4 not out) guided Kolkata home in the 19th over.
Jasprit Bumrah dismissed the in-form Pandey and also finished with one wicket alongside Deepak Chahar and Allah Ghazanfar. Corbin Bosch was the pick of Mumbai’s bowlers with three wickets, but his all-round performance eventually ended in a losing cause. Mumbai wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton took two catches, while Bosch and Ghazanfar grabbed one each.
Rain interruption and another Mumbai collapse
Earlier, Mumbai managed only 147 for eight in 20 overs in an innings interrupted by rain. Play was halted after the eighth over with Mumbai struggling at 57 for four. After the restart, wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
The 20th over turned out to be Mumbai’s best phase of the innings. Corbin Bosch smashed two sixes and a four off pacer Kartik Tyagi to collect 19 runs in the over.
Mumbai’s star batters fail again
Corbin Bosch top-scored for Mumbai with an unbeaten 32 off 18 balls, including two sixes and three fours. Returning skipper Hardik Pandya scored 26, Tilak Varma made 20, while Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav contributed 15 runs each. Will Jacks was run out for 14.
Three Kolkata bowlers claim two wickets each
Kolkata pacers Saurabh Dubey, Kartik Tyagi and Cameron Green picked up two wickets apiece. Left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey removed both Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. Earlier, Cameron Green had sent Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir back to the pavilion cheaply.
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