Ends league phase with 18 points; To take on CSK in Qualifier-1 tomorrow

Mumbai Indians (MI) thrashed Kolkata Knights Riders (KKR) by 9 wickets in match 56 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 at Wankhede Stadium here yesterday.

Chasing a modest target of 134 runs, Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma gave the home side a flying start as the left-right hand opening pair added 46 runs in 6.1 overs. De Kock continued his fine form as he scored 30 runs off 23 balls. His innings included 1 four and 3 sixes. De Kock was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna courtesy a magnificent catch taken by Dinesh Karthik.

Following that, nothing went the visiting team’s way as Rohit Sharma, who was joined by Suryakumar Yadav stitched together an unbeaten 88-run partnership that gave Mumbai Indians a convincing win. Rohit remained unbeaten on 55 off 48 (8 fours). This was the Mumbai Indians’ captain’s 36th IPL half-century. On the other hand, Suryakumar scored an unbeaten 46 off 27 (5 fours, 2 sixes).

With this win, MI topped the IPL 2019 points table and will play CSK in the Qualifier-1 tomorrow (May 7).

Earlier, KKR scored 133/7 in 20 overs. Chris Lynn top-scored with 41 runs.

KXIP beat CSK

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have beaten Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 6 wickets and 2 overs to spare in their last league match at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Sunday.

After CSK posted 170/5 in their 20 overs, KXIP chased down the target courtesy of two blitzkriegs — primarily by K.L. Rahul (71 off 36 balls) and then by Nicholas Pooran (36 off 22 balls).

CSK will play the Qualifier 1 in Chennai on Tuesday. KXIP finish IPL 2019 at 6th spot. They will be disappointed after the brilliant start they enjoyed to the season, but will be glad they have got one over the league leaders CSK.

Earlier, CSK were sent to bat first by KXIP captain Ravichandran Ashwin, who won the toss. KXIP started well, with Sam Curran (3/35) getting Shane Watson’s wicket early on.

Faf du Plessis (96) and Suresh Raina (53) put on a 120-run partnership before Sam Curran removed Raina against the run of play. Faf du Plessis shifted gears after reaching his fifty and at one point of time it looked as if he would take his team’s total near the 200-mark. However, it was Curran who had the last laugh against the South African too, getting the ball to deflect off his pads into the stumps. CSK’s ambitions of going for the final push received a jolt with Curran’s late strike, and it was further jolted by two wickets by Mohammed Shami (2/17 ) in the last over.

MI ended the league phase with 18 points from 14 matches — the same as CSK and Delhi Capitals — but they secured the top spot by virtue of better net run rate. MI ended at a net run rate of 0.421 as against 0.131 and 0.044 of CSK and DC respectively.

MI’s win meant that KKR are knocked out of the Tournament with Sunrisers making it to the play-offs at their expense on better net run rate.

KKR and SRH ended the league phase on 12 points each but the Hyderabad-based side sneaked to the play-offs with 0.577 net run rate against 0.028 of the Kolkata side.

MI and CSK play against each other in Chennai in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday while Delhi Capitals — who finished third — take on SRH in the Eliminator at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

The Qualifier 2 — between the losing teams of Qualifier 1 and Eliminator — will also be played at Visakhapatnam on Friday.