Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a commanding win against Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens. Mumbai Indians were batting first and lost three quick wickets in the powerplay before rain interrupted. Hardik and Tilak struggled to maintain the run rate and Mumbai Indians kept losing wickets. Corbin Bosch provided a good finish to help Mumbai Indians post a target of 147. Chasing the target, Kolkata Knight Riders lost the wicket of Finn Allen early but they consolidated well and in the end comfortably chased down the target. This win takes them to 13 points and also has helped their NRR.
MI 147/8 ( Bosch 32, Green 2/23) lost to KKR 148/6 ( Pandey 45, Bosch 3/30)
Rovman Powell: (What was your thought when you were going out to bat?) From the Mumbai Indians guys who were batting, I said it's a typical Caribbean wicket. You know, it might not be the wicket of the IPL where the ball is sliding onto the bat, but it's a typical Caribbean wicket where it hold in the wicket a little bit. So I guess I would understand how to bat on it. (Did you want to dominate the bowlers on this pitch?) No, not at all. You know, I think the score tells you that all you need to do is to just get a start and once you get a start, you target the short side. It's not one of those wickets where it's placid, where it's sliding onto the bat. But having said that, it's good to contribute to a team win. (You still have an outside chance of qualifying?) Yeah, that's what cricket is. You know, that's the beauty of the game. It's important for us to just keep on focusing on the last game. You know, not worried about qualifying, not qualifying. You know, first six games, we have nothing to do with that anymore. So it's just for us now to play good cricket in our last game and whatever happens, happens.
Hardik Pandya | MI captain:
(Where you about 20 runs short?) Yeah, I mean, quite entertaining. Definitely as a batting group, we were 20 short. I think we lost a lot of wickets in powerplay, but if Tilak and I would have stayed longer, and we had stitched a couple of more partnership and got those 15-20 runs, I think we would have had a decent chance. (What was the pitch like?) I mean, to be very honest, I don't mind playing on this sort of wickets where bowlers have something to do. I think IPL is becoming quite batting-dominated. Bowlers are feeling helpless. I think today's game kind of gave bowlers something as well, which kind of makes them come and bowl some good balls, make batsmen play some good cricket and score runs. So, I kind of enjoyed it. (What was going on in the field?) I don't know. I think throughout the season, we've been quite poor in fielding. I think we have dropped a lot of catches, which obviously no one wants to do it. But in that part of the game, I think there is no hiding away. I think if you get chances, if you want to win games, you need to grab all the chances, even half chances as well. But yeah, when you drop chances which can change the game, it's always you are chasing the game. (You would want to finish the season on a good note?) Yeah, absolutely. So, it's an ESA game. It's for the children. We just want to make sure that we come and get smile on those 25,000 kids and let them come and watch us play, and we entertain them, make them happy. I think it will be a lifetime memories for them.
Ajinkya Rahane | KKR captain:
That was really important, I was really happy with the way Varun and Sunil were bowling. Really happy for Manish, his work ethic and attitude, it is not easy when you are not playing regularly. Today's knock I am very happy and each and every member is happy for Manish. What has worked for us in the last 6-7 games is being in the moment and taking it one game at a time.
Manish Pandey | Player of the Match:
That's the reason why I am still here. KKR has been great. This is the only game I have batted, I have been padded up and didn't get the opportunity. I think couple of fours off Deepak and Bumrah, it came out well. Even more important for me if I don't play, I want to be part of the team. There has been great camaraderie. We probabaly bat for one hour and end up fielding for 45 minutes, I like to contribute that way, I like every ball to come to me.
