Rana scored his third IPL fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Nitish Rana, captain Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard clubbed 53, 40 not out and 39 respectively to not only help the Mumbai Indians take down the Gujarat Lions by six wickets, but also put them at the top of the points table.
Choosing to bowl first, the Indians struck on the second ball of the match as Mitchell McClenaghan dismissed Dwayne Smith for a duck.
Brendon McCullum and captain Suresh Raina made up for the early loss of Smith with an 80-run partnership, during which McCullum surpassed his half-century, before Raina was removed by Harbhajan Singh for 28.
McCullum went on to make 64 off 44 balls, which included six boundaries and three sixes, before he was clean bowled by Lasith Malinga.
McCullum’s 12th IPL fifty went in vain
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik took over after McCullum’s dismissal as he dominated the 54-run stand he put together with Ishan Kishan.
Karthik ended up scoring an unbeaten 48, which came off 26 deliveries and included two boundaries and two sixes, to lead the Lions to 176/4 off their 20 overs.
McClenaghan was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Malinga and Harbhajan chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 177 to win, the Indians got off to the same start as the Lions did as Parthiv Patel was sent packing by Praveen Kumar on the second ball of the innings.
Like the Lions, the Indians rebuilt their innings following the loss of Patel as Rana and Jos Buttler amassed an 85-run partnership, during which Rana brought up his half-century.
However, he was unable to make the most of it as he was caught behind off the bowling of Andrew Tye for 53, which came off 36 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes.
Buttler fell shortly after for 26, but Pollard and Rohit stabilised the innings with a 68-run stand before Pollard, who made 39, became Tye’s second victim.
Despite this, Rohit proceeded to finish unbeaten on 40 off 29 balls, which included three boundaries and a six, as the Indians won the match with three balls to spare.
Tye was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Kumar and Munaf Patel claimed one wicket each.
Rana was named Man of the Match.