Mumbai Indians Ensures Play Off Berth, Beating Royal Challengers Bangalore By 5 Wickets

Abu Dhabi, UAE:

Mumbai Indians (MI) beats Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 5 wickets in a game that went to the final over almost assuring a playoffs spot, becoming the first team to reach 16 points and cementing their position at the top of the points table.

There were no major fireworks from either of the MI openers, nor from Saurabh Tiwary or the Pandya brothers, as MI too were unable to score quickly apart from Suryakumar’s innings. Captain Pollard added the finishing touches with a boundary to ensure his team collected the two crucial points.

Devdutt Padikkal carried RCB to 164/5. After a couple of failed attempts with the bat, Aaron Finch was left out to make way for young Josh Philippe, while Dale Steyn and Shivam Dube came back into the team replacing Navdeep Saini and Moeen Ali. Philippe was able to contribute after his horror start to the season, whereas Dube was not as fortunate.

Devdutt Padikkal ensured that the momentum from a 71-run opening stand was not wasted. His 74 off 45 performed a similar role for RCB as Suryakumar’s innings played for MI, and gave them a good chance at building a sufficient total. However, the lack of support at the other end ensured RCB finished with a chaseable 164. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a double-wicket maiden to prevent RCB from getting much more than that.

Suryakumar’s unorthodox strokeplay and good timing left the RCB bowlers with no answers.

Jasprit Bumrah may have bowled brilliantly for his 3/14, and Padikkal may have given his team a fighting chance in an important contest. However, it was Suryakumar Yadav who was the Man of the Match.

His unbeaten attacking 79 off 43, including 10 fours and 3 sixes, stunned the RCB bowling into submission.