Sanju Samson’s 52 off 39 balls set the platform but Krishnappa Gowtham’s 11-ball 33 sealed a three-wicket win for the Rajasthan Royals against the Mumbai Indians.
A 129-run second-wicket partnership between Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav laid the foundation for the Mumbai Indians, who elected to bat first.
After losing Evin Lewis for a golden duck, Kishan settled in instantly and smashed four fours and three sixes for his 42-ball 58. His knock helped his side to 130 in 14 overs, but his wicket sparked a mini-collapse which throttled the visitors.
Two wickets fell in the 16th over. Suryakumar lost his scalp after a brilliant 47-ball 74, including six fours and three sixes, and MI captain Rohit Sharma ran himself out off his first ball as they stuttered on 136-4.
Kieron Pollard (21) opened up and managed to get the defending champions past the 150-run mark, but a triple strike from Jofra Archer on debut rocked the hosts to 158-7. The 23-year-old finished with figures of 3-24.
Ben Stokes bowled the final over to Pollard and conceded nine runs as the Mumbai Indians posted 167-7.
A slow start from RR saw them lose both openers for 43 runs by the end of the powerplay.
Samson and Stokes’ 72-run partnership took the visitors to 110 by the 14th over, but Hardik Pandya bowled Stokes for 40 off 27 balls, with three fours and a six.
Jos Buttler joined Samson and watched him reach a measured half-century, but as soon as he tried to open up, he skied a Jasprit Bumrah delivery after a 39-ball 52. Bumrah struck again the following delivery, bowling Buttler as RR toiled at 125-5 three balls into the 17th over.
Despite Mustafizur Rahman taking out Heinrich Klaasen for a duck the following over, he conceded 15 runs and RR needed 28 off the last two overs.
Conceding just one run in his third over, Bumrah conceded 18 in his last over, with Gowtham the chief destroyer.
Needing 10 runs off the final over, Pandya dismissed Archer (8) but Gowtham (33 off 11) hit a four and a six to win the game for the hosts. RR claimed a three-wicket victory with two balls remaining.
Photo: Deepak Malik / IPL/ SPORTZPICS
