Jos Buttler kept his form-train running with a fifth consecutive IPL 50 to bump the Rajasthan Royals up to fifth place on the log.

The Mumbai Indians got off to a solid start, with Suryakumar Yadav (38 off 31) and Evin Lewis (60 off 42) putting on 87 after 10.4 overs, but a flurry of activity saw them drop four wickets in four overs as they stumbled to 119-4. Hardik Pandya hit some lusty blows in his 21-ball 36, including three fours and a six, to drag MI to a lacklustre 168-6.

Ben Stokes (2-26) and Jofra Archer (2-16) were in top form with the ball, restricting MI to 168 for six from their 20 overs. JP Duminy was not out for the third innings in a row, albeit without facing a ball in this innings or his previous innings against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

In response, England’s Jos Buttler produced a Herculean innings, slamming 94 runs off 53 balls (S/R 177.35), including nine fours and five mighty sixes. Buttler hit Hardik Pandya for six to end the match with two overs to spare.

Buttler found support from skipper Ajinkya Rahane (37 off 36 balls) and Sanju Samson (26 off 14). The pick of the bowlers were Mitchell McClenaghan with 4-28 (economy 7.00) and Krunal Pandya (0-24 at 6.00 an over).

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma said after the match that they should have scored ’15-20 more, but I don’t want to be too harsh; we have played some good cricket. Innings like this can happen, we just have to keep our heads up. Jos Buttler has been in great form, he didn’t give us any chances, but we bowled very well. We need to see how we can come back in the next two games’.