Venkatesh, Starc star as KKR break 12-year Wankhede jinx
MI only needed 51 runs off the last five overs, but a superb effort from KKR's bowlers put an end to their hopes
MI only needed 51 runs off the last five overs, but a superb effort from KKR's bowlers put an end to their hopes
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: @himanshu_a30
So this is how the points table looks at the moment: KKR are second, while MI are at the second-last spot. MI are mathematically alive, and just about; but realistically, they know they are all but done for this season. Many results have to go their way if they are to dream off a top-four finish. But anyway, this was KKR's (k)night, as Venkatesh bailed them out with help from Pandey. The IPL action moves to Bengaluru tomorrow, as two lowly-placed sides battle it out. Until then, see you, and goodnight!
Venkatesh Iyer is the Player of the Match for his 70: "Like a professional cricketer, I have to be flexible in how I can my pace my innings. This is the fourth or fifth time that Manish has padded up, but this time he got to bat! It was very important at that time [to rebuild]. Initially, I told him it will take time to adjust to the wicket. The ball was holding up, and it was a two-paced wicket. He was guiding me. I try to be a smarter cricketer... I thought at that situation, the team needed me. I'm a huge fan of Dada [Sourav Ganguly]. Went to ask him about my stance. It was a very fruitful conversation."
Shreyas Iyer: "We are [knocking at the door] at the moment. Lot of thinking would have gone behind that [had we lost today]. Just got to know about the stat [of KKR not winning at Wankhede for 12 years]... This Impact Player rule specifically helped us in this game. Manish has being eyeing an opportunity from the first game. We got to a commendable total. I told the boys that if we have got here, we can defend it. Spinners were unreal, absolutely spot on in executing their lines and lengths. Kudos to them! [Venkatesh] has been eagerly waiting to go out there and express himself. Happy for him!"
Time for the presentations
Varun Chakravarthy: "Extremely good feeling, because we haven't won at Wankhede for 12 years. It was a just a matter of one wicket [when David was batting]. There was dew, but somehow we controlled our emotions. Second innings there was not much help [for the spinners] because of the dew. The batters did tell that the ball is stopping and turning. But when I came on to bowl, I realised it wasn't stopping. Sunny [Narine] is a legend. This is a very special win because we were down and out in the first innings. The way Venkatesh and Manish pulled it back was great."
Prabir: "Too bad Bumrah didn't get to show his batting skills! I was looking forward to see him bat" --- With his form, you'd think he can swing the bat as much as the ball
Hardik Pandya: "Obviously we couldn't form partnerships and kept losing wickets. There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now, not much to say. Bowlers did a fantastic job on this track. The wicket got better if I'm not wrong. Dew came in the second innings. Will go through the game and see what we can do better. You keep fighting, that's what I keep telling myself. It's challenging, but you take the challenges."
James: "20 wickets fall in an IPL match. Not every day you see that" --- Only the fourth time in IPL history
11.14pm A comfortable win for KKR after it seemed a bit tricky when Suryakumar was depositing a few in the stands. MI needed another 50 from 28 balls when a set Suryakumar and David were at the crease. But the game turned thereafter; and David brought it down to 26 from 11, but Starc was helped by two full tosses resulting in wickets. Hang around with hopes of MI making the playoffs for the presentations.
G Coetzee b Starc 8 (17m 7b 0x4 1x6) SR: 114.28
Hat-trick ball. Here's Bumrah.
PP Chawla c Narine b Starc 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Chawla
TH David c SS Iyer b Starc 24 (38m 20b 1x4 1x6) SR: 120.00
Jairam: "Coetzee doesn't like you all saying that David needs to face all the deliveries!"
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Their unexpected union took KKR from 57 for 5 to a score they could defend despite dew setting in
Manish Pandey made 42 in 31 balls after walking out at No. 7 to take KKR to a total they defended well
MI only needed 51 runs off the last five overs, but a superb effort from KKR's bowlers put an end to their hopes