A good performance by the seamers led Royal Challengers Bangalore to a 14-run victory over struggling defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.
Tim Southee (2-25) and Mohammed Siraj (2-28) bowled brilliantly in the final overs and Umesh Yadav (2-29) picked up two early wickets to restrict Mumbai to 153-7.
New Zealand’s Colin de Grandhomme (23 not out) earlier propelled Bangalore’s total to 167-7 when he smashed countryman Mitchell McClenaghan for three sixes off the last four balls of the innings which cost Mumbai in the end.
“We all believe in the changing room that this was the push we needed,” Bangalore captain Virat Kohli said after leading his side to only third win while losing five games. “Important two points. Just told the bowlers to back their gut. Take ownership of your field, your plans, and own it.”
Earlier, after being put into bat, Bangalore missed aggressive batsman AB de Villiers for the second successive match as the South African didn’t recover fully from a fever.
Manan Vohra top scored with 45 off 31 balls and smashed four sixes and two fours, but Brendon McCullum (37) and Kohli (32) couldn’t capitalize on good starts.
McCullum was run out off a direct throw from Hardik Pandya from mid off in the 15th over before Hardik returned and got three wickets in the 18th over.
Mandeep Singh, Kohli and Washington Sundar all holed out in the deep off Hardik’s medium pace while going for big shots before Grandhomme’s little cameo lifted Bangalore’s total in the last over.
Mumbai’s top-order struggles in the tournament continued when Southee clean bowled Ishan Kishan off the first ball.
Umesh then had Suryakumar Yadav lbw before captain Rohit Sharma was smartly caught behind by Quinton de Kock off the next delivery as Mumbai slipped to 21-3 in the fourth over.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (0-23) then got appreciable turn off the wicket and didn’t allow Mumbai batsmen to score freely.
The Pandya brothers — Hardik (50) and Krunal (23) — shared a 56-run stand off 39 balls, but Southee and Siraj bowled well in the last overs to keep Bangalore’s hopes alive for the playoffs.
“Didn’t play smart cricket and losing wickets in the powerplay doesn’t help,” Mumbai captain Rohit said. “We keep making those silly mistakes, which really shouldn’t happen. … I think we can still qualify for the playoffs. We can’t lose hope.”
Mumbai has just two wins from eight matches and is at the bottom of the table with Delhi Daredevils, which also has won only two games.