Pandya fires again to secure Mumbai victory
Hardik Pandya continued his sensational start to the 2017 Indian Premier League after he struck a match-winning 29 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders to give Mumbai Indians their first win of the tournament.
The 23-year-old made a stunning impact in Mumbai's opener as he smashed 28 off the final over from Rising Pune Supergiant's Ashok Dinda - the seamer going for a record 30 off his last six balls.
And he was at it again to fire Mumbai past their 179-run target, hitting 29 off just 11 balls in the closing overs as they snatched a four-wicket victory with one ball to spare.
It was a great day all round for the Pandya family as Hardik's elder brother Krunal starred with the ball, the 26-year-old taking 3-24 to limit Kolkata to 178-7 - Manish Pandey's unbeaten 81 proving in vain.
#IPl Match 7 - @mipaltan 180/6 (19.5 ovs) beat @KKRiders 178/7 by 4 wkts. Relive the game here - https://t.co/UaVjdC95xi #MIvKKR pic.twitter.com/KvhnyLCwpd
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2017
Pandey's innings proved vital to lift Kolkata to a competitive total as the explosive Chris Lynn failed to replicate his sensational 93 not out from their first game.
Lynn managed 32 from 24 balls at the top of the order - including a 91-metre six over square leg - before being trapped lbw by Jasprit Bumrah in the eighth over.
That left Pandey at the crease and he put on a destructive display Lynn would have been proud of, the 27-year-old launching five maximums.
Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav were the only other Kolkata batsman to get into double figures, though, and that ultimately proved costly.
After defeat in their first match, Mumbai made a positive start to game two as Parthiv Patel and Jos Buttler put on 65 for the opening wicket.
Their 45-ball stand laid the foundations for Hardik Pandya's late heroics, but not before a brisk half century from Nitish Rana at number three.
Rana smashed three sixes and four boundaries to race to 50 off just 29 deliveries to take his side to within touching distance of victory, Hardik Pandya finishing the job.
With six overs remaining Mumbai needed 60 runs for victory and they paced their chase perfectly as Hardik Pandya smashed 10 off the final four deliveries from Trent Boult.