Mumbai Indians registered their first win of the season thanks to Rahul Chahar's brilliant bowling and Suryakumar Yadav's amazing half-century to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs at the MA Chidambaram stadium on Tuesday.
Asked to bat first by KKR skipper Eoin Morgan, MI got off to a shaky start as spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismissed MI opener Quinton de Kock (2) cheaply before Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Rohit Sharma steadied the proceedings for MI.
Sharma and Yadav posted a 76-run stand for the second wicket. Yadav smashed a quickfire 56 off 36 balls bedecked with 7 fours and 2 sixes. Sharma scored 43 off 32 balls. After the duo's dismissal, MI suffered a rare batting collapse as the reigning champions were all out for 152.
Russell produced an unbelievable spell for KKR and cliched a five-wicket haul in just 2 overs to head back in the dressing room with the figures of 5/15 in his 2 overs. He dismissed the dangerous duo of Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya among others and took three wickets in the final over itself to reach his fifer.
In response KKR got off to a flying start due to an impressive partnership of 72 runs from openers Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana. Rana continued his good form in the tournament and put up a promising knock of 57 off 47 featuring 6 fours and 2 sixes. Gill added 33 off 24 balls.
KKR lost wickets at quick intervals after Gill's departure as Rahul Tripathi (5), Captain Eoin Morgan and Shakib Al Hasan (9) were all sent back to pavilion cheaply. Just when it appeared like KKR were taking the game away from MI, Chahar's magical spell brought the five time Champions back in the game to defeat KKR in a game that they dominated for almost 35 overs.
It was a stellar comeback by MI as Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult's death over expertise once again pulled them out of danger. With 19 runs required from the final two overs, Bumrah and Boult spared just 4 runs each in the 19th and 20 overs to take MI home and record their first win in the tournament.
