The 13th match of the IPL 2020 saw Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab clashing in Abu Dhabi. KL Rahul won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision which has become a norm on big grounds like Dubai and here.
Sheldon Cottrell struck early, removing De Kock for a duck, and Suryakumar got run out for 10. But Rohit Sharma hit 70 in 45 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes and also completed 5,000 runs in IPL, becoming the 3rd batsman to do so after Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina.
Ishan Kishan looked good for his 28, but the real impetus to the innings came from Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard, as the MI team slammed 104 runs in the last 6 overs. KL Rahul, KXIP captain made a gross miscalculation leading to Jimmy Neesham and K Gowtham bowling the death overs.
Pandya made 30* in 11 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes, while Pollard smashed 47* in 20 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours to his name, as MI ended on an impressive 191/4 in 20 overs. They got 89 runs in the last 5 overs as well.
Neesham went for 52 runs in his 4 overs and Gowtham gave away 45 runs in his four.
The Cricket fraternity was elated at the carnage done by the Pollard-Hardik combo and showered them with praises on Twitter.
Here are some tweets:
