IPL 2018, MI vs KXIP: Hits and Misses
In the 50th game of the season, Mumbai Indians hosted Kings XI Punjab in a crucial encounter. Ravichandran Ashwin called right at the toss and put MI into bat first.
The hosts did get off to a fast start as they got 37 runs in 3 overs. But they lost 4 wickets in the next few overs and looked in trouble at 71/4. However, comeback-man Kieron Pollard scored a blazing 22-ball fifty and he shared a vital 65-run stand with Krunal Pandya (who scored 23-ball 32).
But KXIP came back strongly at the death as they gave away just 35 runs in the last 5 overs. But MI still ended up with 186 in their 20 overs.
Chasing a stiff target, KXIP lost Chris Gayle in the 4th over for 18. But KL Rahul continued his magnificent form as along with Aaron Finch, he steadied the ship. The duo shared an excellent 111-run stand and kept the visitors in the hunt.
But Finch departed for a well-made 46 and it was after his dismissal Rahul took the responsibility and scored a scintillating 94 and fell in the penultimate over as his wicket turned the game on its head as KXIP couldn’t get 20 off the last 9 deliveries and faltered to their fourth consecutive defeat.
#5 Miss: Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle started the season in style, silencing his critics. The 38-year-old West Indian opener scored 302 runs in his first 5 innings but has tapered away in the last few games.
Before this game against MI, Gayle had scored just 48 runs in the last 4 innings. In this crucial game, KXIP would’ve hoped that the big Jamaican opener would deliver. However, that didn’t happen as Gayle was back in the hut early and he scored just 18.
Chasing 187, KXIP needed Gayle to give them a good start at the top of the order. He did give them some hope as he started well scoring a couple of boundaries and a six. But he once again fell to the short ball as he tried to pull
McClenaghan and was out caught at deep square-leg. Thus, it was a fifth successive low-score for Gayle.