KKR vanquishes MI

The promising start …

Rohit Sharma returned to the side and struck 78 for the opening wicket with Quinton de Kock as KKR chose to bowl first. It was the kind of start that grew strong as the PowerPlay progressed. The first two overs went for nine and then the next two went for 20. Prasidh Krishna’s introduction helped de Kock pick up the scoring as MI posted 59 for no loss in the first six.

The spin strangle …

Only in the seventh and eighth over was Eoin Morgan able to find some control. Sunil Narine, bowling his second, was taken for just four while Varun Chakravarthy, bowling his third, ensured MI openers couldn’t get on top and gave away three. In the two overs, MI scored seven but the pressure was eased when de Kock struck two boundaries to bag 14 in the ninth. Narine dismissed Rohit in the tenth as the two spinners had combined figures of 8-0-42-1. Between Rohit’s wicket and till the end of the 12th over, MI scored 12 in three overs and that led to de Kock becoming increasingly frustrated.

MI’s late finish

MI were 106 for 3 in 15 overs with de Kock just dismissed by Prasidh Krishna but things unravelled for KKR a touch from there on. Andre Russell was hit for a six and a four to give away 13 from his over. In the 18th, Prasidh couldn’t quite get his execution right and was punished by Kieron Pollard after indulging in verbal volleys with the all-rounder. The 18th was a nine-ball over that was taken for 18 which had a six, a four, a dropped catch, a no ball and two wides. And while both Prasidh and Russell struggled, Lockie Ferguson ended with figures of 4-0-27-2 to ensure KKR were able to keep MI to a modest total.

KKR’s early blitz …

After their loss against Delhi Capitals, KKR head coach Brendon McCullum was left frustrated with the timid approach of his top order batsmen. Shubman Gill clearly understood his coach’s wants and has made changes to his gameplan accordingly. On the second ball, he walked across to flick Trent Boult for a six over midwicket. On the other end, Gill now has another aggressive partner as well.

Venkatesh Iyer, playing his second IPL match, too opened his account with a six to push the score to 15 for no loss after the opening over. Adam Milne too was in for a similar treatment but Jasprit Bumrah broke the opening stand on the final ball of the third over with the wicket of Gill. KKR were 41 for 1 then and had already put MI under a lot of pressure.

The Iyer-Tripathi show …

Iyer, fresh from an unbeaten 41 against RCB, got his maiden IPL half-century to keep the chase going. Iyer and Rahul Tripathi scored 88 off 52 to shut the door on Rohit’s side. KKR were 63 for 1 after the PowerPlay – their best this season – and cruised past 100 in the tenth to leave 45 off 60. The sustained pressure got to Bumrah as well as the pacer leaked a boundary in the tenth and then bowled a high bouncer which resulted in five wides. Iyer’s half-century was also the fastest for any KKR batsman against MI.

MI will now take on RCB on September 26 in Dubai while KKR will play the afternoon game on the same day against Chennai Super Kings.

News is being sent by BTC News (Bangladesh) North 24 Parganas (India) correspondent, Tathyik Bhattacharya. #