Mumbai Indians keep campaign alive with 8-wicket thrashing of Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah
The Mumbai Indians needed a big win over the Rajasthan Royals to keep their campaign going and that’s exactly what they did on Tuesday when the reigning champions won by 8 wickets in a 51 match to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) play-offs in Sharjah
MI first restricted RR to 90 for 9, the lowest total batting first at Sharjah, thanks to outstanding bowling performances from Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Neesham and Jasprit Bumrah before gunning down the target in just 8.2 overs to give a much-needed lift to their net run rate.
Rohit Sharma got his team to a flying start with his 13-ball cameo, scoring 22 runs with a four and two sixes. The Hitman completed 400 sixes in T20 cricket, becoming the first Indian batsman to achieve the feat in the shortest format of the game in the process.
Ishan Kishan, who replaced Quinton de Kock in the playing XI and opened the chase with his captain, roared aback to form scoring 50 not out with 5 fours and 3 sixes.
MI, who were tied on 10 points with RR and Punjab Kings before this game, jumped two spots to be placed just below Kolkata Knight Riders (12 points) in fifth place thanks to their second biggest win in terms of balls remaining in IPL history.
Earlier, pacers Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Neesham shared seven wickets between them to help Mumbai Indians restrict Rajasthan Royals to their lowest total in the IPL this season.
Opener Evin Lewis scored 24 while David Miller was the next best for the Royals with 15 runs in his kitty. Coulter-Nile (4/14) took four wickets while Neesham (3/12) scalped three batsmen.
