PIX: Chahar shines as Mumbai Indians rally to beat KKR

Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Chennai.

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Rahul Chahar led a strong fightback for Mumbai Indians as they defended a meagre total to get the better of Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs in the IPL match, in Chennai, on Tuesday.

Chasing 153 for victory, the Knight Riders looked on course for a comfortable victory before a batting collapse saw them choke for runs at the death.

Chahar got rid of the top four Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen to finish with figures of 4 for 27 in his four overs before Trent Boult (2-27) dismissed Andre Russell (9) and Pat Cummins (0) in the last over to seal a deserving victory. 

Earlier, Andre Russell was instrumental in helping KKR dismiss Mumbai Indians for a below-par 152 after they were sent in to bat. He finished with five wickets for 15 runs to record the best figures by a KKR bowler in the IPL and also the best bowling figures by any bowler against Mumbai Indians.

Interestingly, Russell could not replicate the same magic with the bat in the run-chase. He struggled to get going in the final few overs, managing just nine from 15 balls as KKR messed up an easy run-chase.

The young duo of Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill got Kolkata Knight Riders off to a good start, putting on 45 runs in the first six overs.

Rana hit 23 from 20 balls, while Gill stroked 20 from 16 of those runs before bringing up KKR's 50 in the seventh over. However, leg-spinner Chahar came into the attack in the ninth over and ended the flourishing stand despite being hit for a four and six by Gill.

He had the last laugh as Gill holed out to long-off, trying another lofted shot down the ground.

Gill walked back after scoring 33 from 24 balls, having put on 72 runs from 53 balls for the opening wicket with Rana to give KKR the perfect start.

At the half-way mark, KKR were well-placed on 81 for 1 in 10 overs, needing another 72 from the remaining 10 for victory.

Rana had stroked his way to 43 from 33 balls to stay on course for his second successive fifty.

Rahul Tripathi, who replaced Gill, however, was unable to continue the momentum. He was done in by a sharp, turning delivery from Chahar which took the edge and wicketkeeper de Kock did well to take the sharp chance.

Chahar got his second wicket and KKR were checked in their stride, reduced to 84 for 2 in the 11th over.

Rana brought up second successive half-century from 40 balls before Chahar continued his wicket ways.

Morgan came down the track and tried to swing the ball over mid-wicket but ended up hitting it high on the leg side and was caught by Marco Jansen for 7.

Chahar then dismissed Rana, who was beaten by the top spinner which went on straight and was stumped for 57.

He finished with superb figures of 4 for 27 in his four overs as Mumbai got a glimmer of hope, though KKR were still in control at 122 for 4 in 15 overs, with 31 needed from five overs for victory.

But KKR continued to commit hara-kiri. Shakib al-Hassan tried to go after left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya but only ended up throwing his wicket away, caught at deep square leg by Suryakumar Yadav for 9.

At 122 for 5 in the 16th over, KKR were in a spot of bother. The onus was on Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell to take the team home. They ticked away at the runs but left 15 to get from the final over, bowled by Boult.

Russell took a single off the first delivery, and Karthik got one off the second before Boult got Russell with a return catch.

With three to get of the next three, Pat Cummins was bowled by Boult, leaving Harbhajan Singh to get 13 off the last two. He got only two and Mumbai stole an incredible 10-run victory.

Earlier, Russell bagged five wickets at the end of the innings as Kolkata Knight Riders shot out Mumbai Indians for 152.

Coming in to bowl only in the 18th over, the West Indian pacer snared the wickets Kieron Pollard with his second delivery and then got new-batsman Marco Jansen for a first-ball duck next.

He then dismissed Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Chahar in the last over to finish with career-best figures of 5 for 15 from two overs.

It was a clinical bowling effort by the Kolkata bowlers, as only Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Rohit Sharma could make notable contributions for Mumbai Indians, the former blasting 56 runs off 36 balls to rally the side, and Rohit 43 off 32 balls.

Besides Russell, Pat Cummins (2 for 24) and Shakib Al Hasan (1 for 23) were Kolkata's other main wicket-takers. Varun Chakravarthy also registered good figures, 1 for 22, in his four overs.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl. Having beaten Sunrisers in their opening match they chose to field the same playing eleven.

Mumbai Indians made one change to the team that lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first match, Quinton de Kock replacing Chris Lynn.

Harbhajan Singh opened the bowling for KKR, while Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock got Mumbai’s innings underway.

After Harbhajan conceded three runs in the first over, KKR went with spin from the other end too. And the move paid off as Varun Chakravarthy provided the breakthrough, having de Kock (2) caught by Rahul Tripathi at long-on. Mumbai were 10-1 after 2 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 31 off 23 balls in a losing cause against Bangalore, came in nest and immediately went on the attack, hitting a couple of boundaries before Mumbai reached 42-1 in six overs.

Suryakumar brought up his 12th IPL 50 off 33 balls with a cracking six, his second, off Pat Cummins in the tenth over as Mumbai amassed 81 for 1 at the half-way mark, with Rohit playing second fiddle on 25 off 20 balls.

However, Mumbai’s joy was short-lived as Shakib al-Hassan ended his fine knock when Shubman Gill ran to his left at long-on to complete a well-judged catch.

Suryakumar was out after a cracking innings of 56 from 36 balls and Shakib finished with good figures of 1 for 23 in his four overs.

Ishan Kishan (1), who replaced Suryakumar, lasted just three deliveries. Trying to hoist a quick bouncer from Cummins he holed out to Prasidh Krishna at fine leg. Two wickets in the space of five deliveries saw Mumbai Indians reduced to 88 for 3 in the 12th over.

The Kolkata bowlers continued to keep it tight, as Varun Chakravarthy registered good figures of 1 for 22 in his four overs.

With runs not coming easily the pressure got to Rohit and Hardik Pandya.  Cummins, back into the attack, struck, taking the key wicket of Rohit, who was deceived by the change in pace. The opener, on 43 off 32 balls, tried to hit through the off-side but could only drag the ball on to his stumps.

Mumbai were in a spot of bother at 115 for 4 in the 16th over.

Their plight worsened when Hardik (15) was dismissed in the next over. Looking to loft Krishna straight down the ground, he ended up holing out to Andre Russell at long-off 15.  

Russell was brought into the attack in the 18th over and he struck with his second delivery, as Pollard lashed out at a full, wide delivery, got the edge and was caught behind by Dinesh Karthik for 5.

Russell picked his second wicket dismissing new batsman Marco Jansen for a first-ball duck, the batsman chipping the ball straight into the hands of Cummins at sweeper cover.

Mumbai lost four wickets for 11 runs in the space of 13 deliveries.

It only got better for Russell when Krunal Pandya (15) holed out to Krishna off the third delivery of the last over, Jasprit Bumrah was caught by Shakib al-Hassan off the fourth and Rahul Chahar caught by Gill of the last ball.

Russell finished with excellent figures of 5 for 15 from two overs as Mumbai were bowled out for a below-par 152 in their 20 overs.