agency
Mumbai, Apr 20 (PTI) Skipper Rohit Sharma laid the foundation with a stylish half-century as Mumbai Indians romped home against Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets in an Indian Premier League encounter, here tonight.
Chasing a target of 171, Rohit set the pace with yet another attractive kock of 62 off 44 balls, it was Kieron Pollard, who finished with a flourish hammering an unbeaten 40 off 19 balls as the home team notched up their second win in 18 overs. Jos Buttler with 28 off 14 balls also did his bit.
The giant Caribbean hit four boundaries and three sixes. This was MI’s second win in five matches. RCB have now lost two out of three matches.
It was in the 17th over bowled by Kane Richardson that saw Pollard hit two huge sixes — one down the ground and another hook shot behind square to swing it decisively in Mumbai Indians’ favour.
In the next over, Pollard hit another six off Shane Watson as the required number of runs came in single digits.
He then finished the match with two successive boundaries. Rohit was at his elegant best during the chase as he played an effortless frontfoot pull-shot off Varun Aaron to dispatch him into the stands. His second six was a Nataraja Shot where he whipped one behind backward square leg off medium pacer Harshal Patel. (PTI)
score board
Royal Challengers Bangalore innings
V Kohli* c Southee b KH Pandya 33
KL Rahul† c Harbhajan Singh b McClenaghan 23
AB de Villiers st †Patel b KH Pandya 29
SR Watson c †Patel b Bumrah 05
TM Head run out (Harbhajan Singh/†Patel) 37
SN Khan c KH Pandya b Bumrah 28
STR Binny c HH Pandya b Bumrah 01
HV Patel not out 00
KW Richardson not out 01
Extras 13
Total 170/7
Mumbai Indians innings
RG Sharma* c de Villiers b Iqbal Abdulla 62
PA Patel† c de Villiers b Richardson 05
AT Rayudu c Richardson b Iqbal Abdulla 31
JC Buttler c Watson b Iqbal Abdulla 28
KA Pollard not out 40
HH Pandya not out 02
Extras 03
Total 171/4
