Mumbai: Nitish Rana (53) continued with his impressive form while captain Rohit Sharma (40 not out) and Kieron Pollard (39) stitched 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket as Mumbai Indians registered their fourth win in IPL X, beating Gujarat Lions by six wickets at the Wankhede on Sunday.

Rana, promoted up the order ahead of the misfiring Rohit, was his usual self scoring freely even though Mumbai Indians lost Parthiv Patel in the very first over of their reply after the Lions, put in to bat, finished at 176/4.

Post Rana and Jos Buttler's quick dismissal, Rohit gradually eased himself in with Pollard unleashing the big shots in regular intervals as the hosts reached home with three balls to spare.

Hardik Pandya (6) was the other not-out batsman. Mumbai Indians, by virtue of this win, are at the top of the table with eight points.

Earlier, Brendon McCullum raced his way to a quickfire 64 while Dinesh Karthik's cameo provided late flourish as the Lions posted a competitive total on board. The former New Zealand captain laid the foundation while Karthik smashed 48 off 26 balls which was largely responsible in Lions crossing 170-run mark.

The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman struck two fours and as many sixes in his breezy knock after McCullum hammered the Mumbai Indians bowlers all round the park, striking six boundaries and three towering sixes.

It was an off day for Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, who went for 51 in his four overs - his most expensive spell in the tournament. The Lions had a disastrous start losing opener Dwanye Smith for a duck. He gave an easy catch to Rana at backward point off Mitchell McClenaghan off the very second ball of the game. Malinga conceded 12 runs in his first.

Skipper Suresh Raina and McCullum then conjured an 80 run stand off 64 balls, with McCullum being the more aggressive of the two. He made his intentions clear as he first hit Jasprit Bumrah coming down the track and then smashed two sixes off Malingain the sixth over, as the visitors made 46 before the fielding restrictions were lifted. (Agencies)

 

Gujarat Lions

D. Smith    c Rana b McCl’ghan    0
B. McCullum    b Malinga    64
S. Raina    c Sharma b Harbhajan    28
I. Kishan    c Krunal b McCl’ghan    11
D. Karthik    not out    48
J. Roy    not out    14
Extras (lb-1, w-8, nb-2)    11
Total (for 4 wickets in 20 overs)    176
Fall of wickets: 1/1, 2/81, 3/99, 4/153
Bowling: McClenaghan 4-0-24-2, Malinga 4-0-51-1, Harbhajan 4-0-22-1, Bumrah 4-0-45-0, Krunal 3-0-18-0, Hardik 1-0-15-0

Mumbai Indians

P. Patel    c Roy b Kumar    0
J. Buttler    c McCullum b Munaf    26
N. Rana    c Karthik b Tye    53
R. Sharma    not out    40
K. Pollard    c Jadeja b Tye    39
H. Pandya    not out    6
Extras (lb-3, w-10)    13
Total (4 wickets; 19.3 overs)    177
Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/85, 3/92, 4/160
Bowling: Kumar 2.3-0-25-1; Thampi 4-0-34-0; Munaf 4-0-35-1; Tye 4-0-34-2; Jadeja 4-0-34-0; Smith 1-0-12-0
MoM: N. Rana