IPL 2019, MI vs KKR: Turning Point – Kolkata Knight Riders send Robin Uthappa ahead of Andre Russell
Here’s a look at the turning point of the IPL 2019 match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.
cricket Updated: May 06, 2019 00:53 ISTChris Lynn got the Kolkata Knight Riders off to a great start against Mumbai Indians with an innings of 41 runs from 29 balls in Mumbai on Sunday. The visitors could have sent Andre Russell in the ninth over as the West Indian would have capitalised on the start and propelled the Kolkata Knight Riders to big score. However, the KKR management decided to send Robin Uthappa at number three. Uthappa has been struggling for form throughout the tournament and he has also batted at a low strike rate. ((Full Scorecard))
Uthappa came out to bat and he just couldn’t put bat on ball. He was trying to play the big shots, but he just couldn’t connect. He put a lot of pressure on his team and let Mumbai take the momentum when he played out a maiden over from Mitchell McClenaghan in the 11th over. The fast bowler became only the third Mumbai Indians bowler to bowl a maiden over in this season. KKR were struggling at 61/2 with Dinesh Karthik at the other end.
The Kolkata captain too had trouble hitting the big shots and was dismissed for three runs by Lasith Malinga in the 13th over. When Andre Russell walked out to bat, Mumbai had the momentum and Malinga sealed the deal when he induced a glove from Russell in his first ball. Quinton de Kock took a simple catch behind the stumps as the Kolkata Knight Riders lost all of their hopes of a big total.
Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana managed a few big shots in the next few overs, but they were never going to be enough. Eventually, Uthappa was dismissed for 40 runs from 47 balls in the final over as KKR managed just 133/7 in 20 overs.
Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten 55 from 48 balls and helped Mumbai Indians win the match by nine wickets with 3.5 overs to spare.
First Published: May 06, 2019 00:15 IST