Mumbai: Skipper KL Rahul's century followed by bowlers' brilliance helped Lucknow Super Giants to beat Mumbai Indians by 36 runs in the 2022 IPL match here at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Rahul's unbeaten 103 off 62 lifted Lucknow to 168/6. In reply, Mumbai, who now have lost their eighth consecutive match this season, were restricted to 132/8.
Chasing a tricky 169-run target, captain Rohit Sharma (39) gave a quick start to Mumbai. Soon after the powerplay, Lucknow began to choke Mumbai.
Opener Ishan Kishan (8) was the first man to fall as he was caught at slip off the bowling of Ravi Bishnoi. Lucknow bowlers continued to make inroads, with Krunal Pandya, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni rattling the middle order including big-hitter Suryakumar Yadav (7) who became the first IPL wicket of Badoni.
With Tilak Verma (38) and Kieron Pollard (19) in the middle, Mumbai's hopes were still alive. Among the two, it was Tilak who was taking the charge and going after the bowlers.
However in the 18th over, Jason Holder got rid of Tilak, who gave a simple catch at deep midwicket. Towards the end, Pandya finished with a three-wicket haul as he cleaned up the lower order, including the West Indian Pollard.
Earlier in the day, Mumbai dominated the powerplay, keeping Lucknow on the backfoot after putting them into bat.
The lone-warrior Rahul, however, anchored the innings with 12 boundaries and four sixes to give his bowlers enough total to defend. Except Rahul, no other LSG batter could manage to cross the 30-run mark, thanks to brilliant bowling by Mumbai in the initial part of the match.
Jasprit Bumrah struck early as he dismissed power-hitter Quinton de Kock for 10. Manish Pandey joined Rahul but his stay was cut short as Pollard send him packing for 22.
Pollard, Daniel Sams, and Riley Meredith then rattled the middle order to ensure Rahul doesn't find support from the other end.
Rahul's equanimity, however, took Lucknow out of the troubled waters before he cracked his second century against Mumbai this season.
The LSG skipper's ton came off 61 balls. For Mumbai, Pollard and Meredith picked two wickets each, while Bumrah and Sams got apiece. (UNI)