Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batters didn’t pierce the field with relish like they have done so most of the time this season. At the time of going to press, MI were in trouble at 71-5 in 11 overs. The Wankhede Stadium pitch did not turn out to be an easy one for them as they were bundled out for a mere 169 in 19.5 overs on Friday. The pitch, combined with some disciplined bowling from the hosts,  destroyed KKR’s ambitions of an intimidating total.

MI’s Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara (3-42) emerged the pick of the overseas bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah claimed 3-18. The dangerous Rinku Singh was caught and bowled by Piyush Chawla for nine, failing to tackle the veteran leggie’s trajectory. By the end of the Powerplay, KKR had lost their top four batsmen with just 57 runs on the board.