IPL 2018: 3 memorable clashes between MI and KKR at the Wankhede

Mumbai Indians will clash against Kolkata Knight Riders today at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This is an important game for both the teams, particularly Mumbai, as they need to win to stay in contention for the playoffs spot. As for the points table is concerned, Mumbai Indians are in 5th place, while Kolkata Knight Riders are in the 3rd spot.

Both the teams are in good shape as they have won their previous encounters and would want to continue the momentum going ahead. When it comes to Head to Head department, both the teams have clashed against each other 21 times out of which Mumbai Indians have won 16 games to KKR’s 5. At the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians have a dominant record of winning 7 games and losing only 1 game.

Let us look at 3 memorable games between both the sides at Wankhede Stadium in IPL History.

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#3 Pollock’s 3-fer sets up a convincing win for Mumbai – 2008

This was during the Inaugural edition of Indian Premier League played at the Wankhede Stadium. Skipper Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to field first. His decision paid off as Shaun Pollock ripped apart the top order of Kolkata Knight Riders. He picked up the wickets of Salman Butt (13), David Hussey (2) and Mohammad Hafeez (5) inside 7 overs and Kolkata Knight Riders were reeling at 4-28 inside 7 overs.

Sourav Ganguly was left stranded as wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Ajit Agarkar and Ganguly added 20 runs for the 7th wicket which was the highest partnership of the innings. Dwayne Bravo and rookie Rohan Raje shared 2 wickets apiece whilst cleaning up the tail. In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders were steamrolled for a paltry score of 67 inside 16 overs. Shaun Pollock was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets. Sourav Ganguly and Ajit Agarkar were the join highest run scorers with 15 runs each.

Chasing 68 to win, Mumbai Indians lost Sachin Tendulkar in the second over as the little master edged one into the hands of wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha of the bowling of Shoaib Akhtar for a duck. However, Sanath Jayasuriya went along his merry way smashing the KKR bowlers all over the park. He smashed a quick fire 48 off just 17 balls that ensured Mumbai Indians chased the target within the 6 over powerplay.

Mumbai Indians won the game by 8 wickets and for his excellent spell of bowling Shaun Pollock was awarded Man of the Match. His bowling figures read 4-0-12-3.

#2 Sunil Narine spins it to win it for KKR at the Wankhede -2012

This was during the 5th edition of DLF Indian Premier League when the two sides clashed against each other at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first and their decision paid off as R.P Singh removed both Brendon McCullum (1) and Jacques Kallis (0) in the second over. Skipper Gautam Gambhir and Manoj Tiwary scored steadily before Kieron Pollard sent back Gambhir for 27.

Manoj Tiwary kept the scoreboard ticking until he was dismissed for 41 in the 15th over. At this juncture, Kolkata Knight Riders were 5-91 with more than 5 overs to spare. Yusuf Pathan (21*) aided by Rajat Bhatia (12) produced little cameos to ensure Kolkata put up a fighting total of 140/7 in the 20 overs.

Among the Mumbai bowlers, R.P Singh picked up 2 wickets, while Munaf Patel, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith picked up one wicket apiece.

In reply, Mumbai Indians got off to a slow start. Gibbs and Sachin Tendulkar struggled to score freely on a slow pitch and against the potent bowling attack of Kolkata Knight Riders. Gibbs was trapped in front by Iqbal Abdulla for 13, while Sachin Tendulkar was bowled trying to cut an off-spinner that cut back in to dislodge the stumps. At this juncture, Mumbai Indians were 60-2 in 11 overs. The middle order batting consisting of Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma struggled against the spin trio of Shakib al Hasan, Sunil Narine and Iqbal Abdullah on a slow pitch.

Sunil Narine, in particular, was lethal as he was unplayable on a pitch that assisted the spinners. The Mumbai Indians batsman crumbled under pressure and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Rohit Sharma was struck at one end and the hopes of Mumbai ended, when he was dismissed in the 18th over when the batsman offered a catch to silly point trying to glide a straighter one from Narine that caught the leading edge of the bat. None of the lower order batsman and tail could survive and in the end, Mumbai Indians innings folded for 108/10 in 19.2 overs.

Kolkata won the game by 32 runs and this was their first victory at the Wankhede Stadium. For his magical spell of bowling, Sunil Narine was adjudged Man of the Match. His bowling figures read 3.1-0-15-4.

#1 Hardik Pandya’s 61 and Kieron Pollard’s last over heroics with the ball help Mumbai register a famous win - 2015

In a crucial encounter, Mumbai Indians were put into bat first. Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel opened the innings and the pair added 29 runs for the first wicket before Parthiv was holed out at deep midwicket region of the bowling of Shakib al Hasan for 21. Simmons didn’t last long as he handed over a simple catch into the hands of the third man off the bowling of Morne Morkel for 14.

Skipper Rohit Sharma scored freely during his innings of 30 of 21 balls. But he couldn’t capitalise on his start as he was bowled off the bowling of Sunil Narine and at this juncture, Mumbai Indians were 4-79 with more than 8 overs to spare.

Hardik Pandya, who playing his debut IPL season walked into bat to partner Kieron Pollard. He took the attack to the opposition as he blazed away to a swashbuckling 61 of just 31 balls. He was particularly severe against Umesh Yadav as he smashed the fast bowler for 4 consecutive fours in the 17th over. He followed it up by Andre Russell for 2 fours and 1 gigantic six in the 19th over. The last 5 overs yielded 72 runs largely due to Hardik Pandya. Kieron Pollard played a subdued knock of 33 in 38 balls.

Mumbai Indians ended up with171/4 in 20 overs. Shakib al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets.

In reply, Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa got the team off to a good start. The pair added 45 runs for the first wicket before Robin Uthappa handed over a catch to the short fine leg of the bowling of Harbhajan Singh. Manish Pandey didn’t bother to trouble the scorers as he was run-out for 1 in the next over.

Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan resurrected the chase and the pair added 42 runs for the 3rd wicket before Gautam Gambhir yorked himself to be bowled off the bowling of Jagadeesha Suchith for 38.

Yusuf Pathan and Shakib kept finding the fence and Kolkata were on course for a famous victory before things started to unfold. 3 wickets fell in the span of 3 overs thanks to some rash that accounted for wickets of Shakib (23), Andre Russell (2), Suryakumar Yadav (11). At one stage Kolkata required 28 runs in 17 balls with Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla at the crease. Mumbai Indians kept bowling tight and the equation was down to 12 runs required off the last over with Yusuf Pathan batting on 52 not out.

The last over responsibility was handed over to Kieron Pollard and he delivered by removing the priced wicket of Yusuf Pathan, who top-edged a slower short ball to the wicketkeeper. Umesh Yadav eeked out a boundary, with the help of poor fielding by Lasith Malinga who dived over the ball and it ran away for four. Umesh Yadav handed over the strike to Piyush Chawla by taking a single off the next ball.

Pollard bowled an off-cutter that went too far and wide was declared. Now the equation was 6 required off 3 balls. Pollard struck to his slower ball theory and delivered one on the 4th ball to which Piyush Chawla couldn’t make contact. On the 5th ball, Pollard once again pushed one wide of the off stump, Chawla once again failed to make contact trying to hit one across the line only to be missed.

6 runs were required off the last ball and Kieron Pollard once again delivered a slower delivery to which Piyush Chawla danced down the pitch only to be missed. With this Mumbai pulled off a stunning victory. The entire Mumbai Indians team along with the crowd was jubilant. The team pounced on Kieron posiPollard who pulled off a terrific last over that ensured Mumbai Indians had a famous victory.

Mumbai Indians won the game by 5 runs and for his whirl winding knock of 61 of 31 balls, Hardik Pandya was awarded Man of the Match.