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Mumbai Indians (MI) comprehensively defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets in the 32nd match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday
Chasing 148 was never going to trouble the four-time champions and precisely that only happened. MI got off to a magnificent start as the opening pair of Rohit Sharma (35), and Quinton de Kock (78 not out) started attacking KKR bowlers from the word go.
Both the batters scored 51/0 in the powerplay and it was the first 50-plus opening stand of the ongoing thirteenth season for MI. Also, it was the first occasion when MI got through the powerplay without losing any wicket this season.
During the 9th over of MI’s chase bowled by Andre Russell, De Kock slammed a huge six to reach his third half-century of IPL 2020.
After first 10 overs, MI reached 90/0 and both the batsmen were looking set. Rohit started the 11th over bowled by Shivam Mavi with a boundary. However, on the very next ball, the right-arm bowler got his revenge as he sent MI skipper back to the hut.
Soon, spinner Varun Chakravarthy joined the party as he cleaned up Surya Kumar Yadav (10) in the 14th over of MI’s chase. However, it was too late as MI chased down the total in 16.5 overs.
Cummins, Morgan guide KKR to 148/6
Earlier, KKR witnessed a batting collapse after opting to bat first. They lost the first wicket at 18 runs in the form of Rahul Tripathy (7). Just 15 runs later, MI pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was playing his first game of the season, dismissed Nitish Rana (5).
As if the trouble wasn’t enough, KKR lost three more wickets in quick succession. Then, the newly appointed captain Eoin Morgan (39 not out) and Pat Cummins (53 not out) steadied the Knight Riders’ ship. Cummins scored his maiden T20 fifty and the pair added an unbeaten 87-run stand to take the team’s total to 148/5. Both the batters scored 35 runs in the final two overs of their innings.
For Mumbai, Rahul Chahar was their most successful bowler. The leg-spinner conceded only 18 runs in his 4-over spell and picked up two wickets. Apart from Chahar, Trent Boult, Coulter-Nile and Jasprit Bumrah bagged one scalp each.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
#MumbaiIndians Indians simply playing like @mipaltan ! Earlier, they used to show this ruthlessness in the second half and this time they are on the ball from the start of the season. Dangerous sign for all. #KKRvMI #MIvsKKR #IPL2020
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 16, 2020
The way #MI was batting it looked like a completely different pitch
A lot to work for #KKR & their new captain.
Well played @mipaltan for 21st win over KKR- most by an IPL team#MIvKKR— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) October 16, 2020
MI beat KKR for the 21st time in the IPL. They have lost only 6 matches to KKR since 2008 #MIvsKKR #KKRvsMI
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 16, 2020
A big Win for @mipaltan’s tonight against @KKRiders !! #kkr needs to regroup quickly and come back stronger. Wud love 2 see #ShivamMavi gets d new ball in d next game provided if d pitch assist bcoz he can swing. Heartbroken today to see kkr lose dis way. Gudnite.. #KKRvsMI #IPL
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) October 16, 2020
A comprehensive win for the @mipaltan here in Abu Dhabi. They win by 8 wickets against #KKR.
Quinton de Kock remains unbeaten on 78.#Dream11IPL. pic.twitter.com/BDhMILSKI0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 16, 2020
Power Player of the Match 👉 Quinton de Kock 💙#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #Dream11IPL #MIvKKR
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 16, 2020
Yes the boy Coults! #MIvsKKR
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) October 16, 2020
Can we have #MI vs #DelhiCapitals finals already? 🙈 #IPL2020
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 16, 2020
Varcha class #mi
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 16, 2020
H2H its MI 21, KKR 6 in #IPL
Last 12 IPL games since May 2015, its MI 11, KKR 1#IPL2020#Dream11IPL#IPLinUAE#KKRvMI#MIvsKKR#MIvKKR— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 16, 2020
Mumbai Indians in last 5 matches in #IPL2020:
– beat KX1P by 48 runs.
– beat SRH by 34 runs.
– beat RR by 57 runs.
– beat DC by 5 wickets.
– beat KKR by 8 wickets.Team's find it difficult to chase but Mumbai Indians making it easy.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 16, 2020
Mumbai Indians is undoubtedly the most complete team of IPL. A reason of being four-time champions🙌 Kudos! #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #MIvKKR #KKRvsMI @mipaltan
— Rajarshi Dasgupta (@rajarshi_15) October 16, 2020