Images from Wednesday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Abu Dhabi.
Skipper Rohit Sharma hammered the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers into submission as Mumbai Indians easily beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 49 runs in the Indian Premier League match, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday.
Put in to bat the defending champions posted an imposing 195 for five and then restricted the Knight Riders to 166 for 9 to register their first victory in two outings.
The night, without doubt, belonged to Rohit, the great white-ball exponent. His 80 off 54 balls, laced with six sixes, put Mumbai Indians high in the saddle from the start.
Then the Jasprit Bumrah-led attack did most things correct to enable them end their winless run in the UAE.
The Knight Riders were never comfortable in the chase after losing openers Shubhman Gill (7) and Sunil Narine (9) cheaply and in a spot of bother at 25 for two.
One-down skipper Dinesh Karthik (30 off 23) and Nitish Rana (24 off 18) tried to up the ante but they were still playing the catch-up game with 125 runs needed from the last 10 overs.
Kolkata were rocked in quick succession – first Karthik was trapped by Rahul Chahar (2/26) in front of the wicket and then Hardik Pandya took a running catch on the fence to send back Rana -- after which defeat was inevitable.
Bumrah (2/32) sealed the game for Mumbai in the 16th over when he bowled Andre Russell (11), and then forced Eoin Morgan (20) to edge to the wicketkeeper.
Pat Cummins (33 off 12) launched into Bumrah with four sixes in a very expensive 18th over, but it was too late for Kolkata, who failed to put up a fight.
Bumrah went for 27 runs. Kieron Pollard (1/21), Trent Boult (2/30), James Pattison (2/25 ) played their roles to perfection.
Earlier, after Shivam Mavi (2/32) dismissed opener Quinton De Kock (1) cheaply, Rohit hit 6 sixes and 3 fours, and Suryakumar Yadav scored 47 off 28, including 6 fours and a six, as the defending champions put up 90 runs for the second wicket which pulled the team out of early trouble.
Rohit, who began with a maximum, displayed his languid grace and elegance as he took the Kolkata attack to the cleaners.
Suryakumar effortlessly smashed four boundaries off Sandeep Warrier (0/34), including a cover-drive and a flick, in the third over.
Rohit got going after smashing pacer Pat Cummins (0/49) for two maximums, both with his trademark pull-short.
With the two looking good and hitting sixes and fours at will, Mumbai raced to 94 for 1 after 10 overs.
The Knight Riders, however, cut short Suryakumar's stay by running him out.
Rohit continued his brutal onslaught against chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (0-39), smashing him for two maximums.
Saurabh Tiwary (21) and Hardik Pandya (18) also played a part in swelling Mumbai Indians’s total. The latter was unluckily dismissed hit-wicket off the bowling of Russell.
Kolkata tried to pull things back after removing Rohit and Hardik in quick succession, but the defending champions added 48 runs in the last five overs to post a healthy total.
