IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians stun KKR in low-scoring thriller

Chennai: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) managed to lose their bearings in an astonishing manner as Mumbai Indians scored a thrilling 10-run victory in an IPL encounter here on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 153, KKR were on course reaching 122/4 in the 15th over before the last five fetched only 20 runs as they fell short to give defending champions their first win.

Krunal Pandya (1/13 in 4 overs) and Chahar (4/27 in 4 overs) were brilliant in checking the run-flow after a 72-run opening stand between Nitish Rana (57 off 47 balls) and Shubman Gill (33 off 24 balls).

KKR opener Nitish Rana scored his second successive fifty. Photo: Twitter/IPL

But it was Jasprit Bumrah (0/28) and Trent Boult (2/27), who were magnificent at the death keeping Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik under check.

Required to show some sensible approach, it was hara-kiri of sorts by KKR batting unit as they were restricted to 142/7 to continue their miserable record with MI. They now have 22 losses against six wins over MI.

Krunal bowled an exceptional 18th over giving away just three runs, as the duo of Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell struggled to get going before Bumrah applied more pressure in the penultimate over.

Needing 15 from the last over, it was a tough ask for KKR and Trent Boult dismissed Russell and Pat Cummins off successive balls to seal the issue.

Earlier, Russell did a star turn coming to bowl in the 18th over as his career-best 5/15 helped KKR bowl out Mumbai Indians for 152.

KKR — Andre Russell, second left, picked up five wickets. Photo: Twitter/IPL

Opting to bowl, Eoin Morgan's astute captaincy was on full display as he used his resources to perfection to choke MI in the middle-overs after Suryakumar Yadav threatened to seize control with his 36-ball 56.

The World Cup-winning England skipper used Cummins cleverly in the middle-overs as the Aussie returned with 2/24, but the masterstroke was certainly keeping Russell for the fag end as MI lost last seven wickets for 37 runs.

Russell was brought on only after Cummins finished his spell in the 16th over as the Jamaican used the platform to perfection by dismissing Krunal, Bumrah and Chahar off the final four balls en route to his milestone.

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