In the 47th game of IPL 2018, Rajasthan Royals (RR) claimed an important 7-wicket victory (with 12 balls to spare) against the hosts Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) on Sunday night. MI was restricted for 168/6 in 20 overs and that was comfortably chased by the visiting side in 18 overs after losing 3 wickets.
Rajasthan captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to field first after winning the toss. The hosts had a very good start as their openers Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis put a superb 87-run partnership for the opening wicket.
Suryakumar was dismissed after scoring 38 runs off 31 balls while skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck. Lewis stretched his innings to 60 runs (42 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes) before getting out.
However, most of the middle-order batsmen didn’t respond to their expectations and that’s why MI failed to put a good total despite a very good start. Apart from the openers, Hardik Pandya was the only other MI batsman to reach the 20-run mark as he scored an important 36 runs off just 21 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes). Pandya’s late knock helped Mumbai to put a fighting total of 168/6 in 20 overs.
The RR bowlers superbly made a comeback in the second half of MI’s innings. Jofra Archer (2/16) and Ben Stokes (2/26) got two wickets each while Dhawal Kulkarni (1/43) and Jaydev Unadkat (1/37) claimed one wicket each.
In reply, in-form opener Jos Buttler again guided his team to a crucial victory as he played another unbeaten 94-run knock off 53 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes. After another opener D’Arcy Short (4 runs) departed quickly, Buttler had a 95-run partnership for the second wicket with the skipper Ajinkya Rahane. After Rahane’s dismissal on 37 runs, Sanju Samson joined with Buttler to put another important 61-run partnership for the third wicket.
While Samson (26 runs off 14 balls) fell just before the finish of the game, Buttler secured the victory with a sixer. The visiting side chased down the target in 18 overs after losing the 3 wickets.
Among the Mumbai bowlers, Hardik Pandya (2/52) got two wickets and Jasprit Bumrah (1/34) took the other wicket.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
The big turning points for #RajasthanRoyals have been the promotion of Buttler but also the arrival of Archer
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 13, 2018
Butler has ben transformational yo RR'a fortunes ever since he was confirmed as opener
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 13, 2018
This is a massive win for @rajasthanroyals .They can attribute this wonderful turnaround to Jos Buttler, who ever since he has opened has made RR look a different side altogether. Feel very happy for @ajinkyarahane88 #MIvRR
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 13, 2018
Well played @josbuttler 2 in 2 he has won @rajasthanroyals singlehandedly. Opens up play offs. One team might go through with 7 wins. Which one will it be???
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) May 13, 2018
#RR win in a canter. #CSK qualifies. Now, it’s about the other two. What’s your pick? #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 13, 2018
Most consecutive 50-plus scores in IPL:
5 – JOS BUTTLER*
5 – Virender Sehwag
4 – Virat Kohli #MIvRR— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 13, 2018
86 in 10 overs with 9 wickets in hand and a batsman in great form….it should be gettable for #RR. For #MI critical they get wickets right away.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 13, 2018
When you miss double century by 200 runs #MIvRR pic.twitter.com/17OeSEikYt
— CSK Guru official ™ (@GuruLeaks) May 13, 2018
Now only Rahul Gandhi has more failures than Rohit Sharma
— MRV (@MRVChennai) May 13, 2018
That is some catch by Samson!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 13, 2018
Rohit Sharma Has Enough Ducks To Start A Poultry Farm. 🙊#MIvRR #MIvsRR #RohitSharma
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) May 13, 2018
Rohit Sharma golden duck in IPL
First 10 seasons: None
This IPL season: 3 times
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) May 13, 2018
I am absolutely sure the men in blue will beat the men in blue tonight #MIvRR
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 13, 2018
