Ishan Kishan’s power-packed 62 off 21 balls ensured that the Mumbai Indians defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by 102 runs at Eden Gardens.
Kishan strode to the wicket as MI were almost halfway through their innings with the score on 62-2. The KKR bowlers were putting the squeeze on the scoreboard, but it took a determined two-step down the wicket from Kishan off the second ball he faced to turn the innings on its head. The 19-year-old hoisted Kuldeep Yadav high over mid-on for a massive six to get himself off the mark and push KKR firmly on to the back foot.
Ball four to Kishan was emphatically reverse-swept for four, and he raced to 20 runs off his first eight balls. And it was then that he put the pedal to the metal!
Ishan Kishan, Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Eden Gardens
9.4 | 0 – Kishan is beaten by Yadav outside the off-stump.
9.5 | 6 – Kishan steps out and hoists Yadav high over wide long on for six.
9.6 | 1 – Kishan drives Yadav hard to long on for a single.
10.1 | 4 – Kishan reverse sweeps Chawla over short third man for four.
10.2 | 0 – Kishan is beaten by Chawla as he attempts to pull. LBW appeal reviewed but umpire’s original decision stands as the ball pitched well outside leg-stump.
10.3 | 0 – Kishan fails again to score off a good ball from Chawla.
10.4 | 4 – Kishan sweeps Chawla for four.
10.5 | 2 – Kishan pushes Chawla to square leg for 2 runs.
10.6 | 4 – Kishan pulls Chawla for four, splitting the square leg and fine leg fielders.
11.2 | (1w) – Russell bounces high over Kishan, with a wide awarded.
11.2 | 1 – Kishan squeezes a yorker from Russell away for a single.
11.4 | 1 – Kishan dabs Russell for a single to the off-side.
11.6 | 4 – Kishan goes down on one knee to slap Russell for four past the sweeper cover.
12.2 | 1 – Kishan slaps a ball from Prasidh Krishna towards point for a single.
12.6 | 4 – Kishan pulls a slower ball from Prasidh Krishna for four.
13.3 | 6 – Kishan goes down on one knee to sweep Yadav high over deep square leg.
13.4 | 6 – Kishan slogs a wide Yadav delivery high over deep midwicket.
13.5 | 6 – Kishan flat-bats Yadav over long on for his 50 off 17 balls, the joint-fastest half-ton for MI.
13.6 | 6 – Kishan steps across the stumps and whips a full delivery from Yadav over deep midwicket.
14.2 | 0 – Swing and a miss.
14.3 | 6 – Kishan goes down on one knee to hoist Narine into the midwicket stands.
14.4 | OUT – Kishan sweeps Narine high to deep square leg, where Uthappa holds the catch right on the boundary rope.
Ishan Kishan c Uthappa b Narine 62 | 21 balls – 5×4 – 6×6 | SR 295.23
Kishan said after the match that being moved up the order had played a major factor in him scoring so freely.
‘It’s given me stability. It’s always good for a youngster to bat up the order,’ he told The Hindustan Times. ‘The coach (Mahela Jayawardene) said during the timeout “just be yourself as we need some good hits today”. Rohit [Sharma] too said, “You know you can hit well”. They knew if I was there, I can get a lot of runs.’
KKR were all out for 108 as MI moved ahead of them on the log based on net run rate. The two teams are now left jostling for that elusive fourth spot and a place in the playoffs.
Watch Ishan describing his innings below:
Image frames: BCCI
