IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians register first win against Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) managed to lose its bearings in an astonishing manner as Mumbai Indians (MI) spinners Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya fashioned an improbable 10-run victory in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter in Chennai on Tuesday.

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

Krunal (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).

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 checks in a game that will be talked about for years to come. especially how KKR



capitulated.

Required to show some sensible approach, it was harakiri 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.

Just when KKR needed to play it sensibly with require run-rate under seven, they seemed to commit harakiri and lost another in Shakib, this time Krunal joining in the party for MI.

Krunal bowled an exceptional 18th over giving away just three runs, as the duo of Karthik and 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 Boult dismissed Russell and Pat Cummins off successive balls to seal the deal.

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