Bengaluru beat Mumbai by 18 runs in high-scoring IPL clash

MUMBAI: Openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli struck half-centuries as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in a marquee Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

Salt made 78 from 36 balls, while Kohli scored 50 as Bengaluru, the defending champions, built a 120-run opening stand and finished on 240-4 at Wankhede Stadium. Captain Rajat Patidar then added a rapid 53 off 20 deliveries, and Tim David provided late momentum with an unbeaten 34.

Patidar credited the platform set by the opening pair and the finishing contributions in the middle and late overs.

“The way Virat and Salt started the innings, I think that kept us in the driving seat. Then a good cameo by me and Tim (David), I think that was a pure team effort”, Patidar stated.

The contest also featured added attention because of the presence of Kohli and Mumbai veteran Rohit Sharma, two senior India players who now play only ODIs for the national side and in the IPL.

Bengaluru then held Mumbai to 222-5, handing the five-time champions their third successive defeat of the tournament. Salt, who was later named player of the match, led the early charge with six fours and six sixes. Kohli played the supporting role for much of the partnership and brought up his second fifty of the season at a comparatively measured pace.

Salt reached his half-century off 25 balls, including three successive sixes against New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner. After a brief slowdown in scoring, he tried to accelerate again and was dismissed by Shardul Thakur. Patidar then attacked the Mumbai bowlers with a series of sixes and, after Kohli was out, completed his fifty in only 17 balls. David capped the innings with an aggressive finish.

Mumbai began their chase positively through Ryan Rickelton, who scored 37, but their momentum dipped after Rohit retired hurt with a hamstring problem. Kohli also did not return to the field for Bengaluru after batting because of an ankle injury.

Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma struck twice in the same over to remove Rickelton and Tilak Varma. Suryakumar Yadav made 33 and skipper Hardik Pandya hit 40 as the pair tried to revive the chase in a brisk stand of 47, but Mumbai fell behind the asking rate after both were dismissed.

“I think in the last couple of games, as a bowling unit or even as a batting unit, we've been catching up in the game rather than leading the game.”, he stated.

Impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford kept Mumbai in contention with an unbeaten 71 and struck four sixes in the final over, but the effort was not enough to prevent defeat.

Gujarat beat Lucknow in earlier match

In the first game of the day, Jos Buttler registered his second consecutive half-century to steer Gujarat Titans to a seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants.

Buttler scored 60 off 37 balls and shared an 84-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Shubman Gill, who made 56. Gujarat chased down the 165-run target with eight balls remaining at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.