Kolkata stays in playoff contention with 4-wicket win over Mumbai in Indian Premier League

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Manish Pandey (45) and Rovman Powell (40) did bulk of the scoring as Kolkata reached 148-6 for their sixth win in the last seven games to move to sixth place.

Mumbai’s disappointing season continued when it slumped to 41-4 inside the power play before Corbin Bosch’s quickfire 32 not out off 18 balls lifted them to 147-8.

“After that first win, we started believing,” captain Ajinkya Rahane said of Kolkata’s turnaround that started with a victory over Rajasthan Royals.

“We kept a nice and positive atmosphere and preparation has been fantastic. When Green started bowling (in the IPL) we wanted Powell to get in and what an impact he has made.”

Kolkata’s million-dollar signing Cameron Green (2-23) and Saurabh Dubey (2-34) had Mumbai reeling within the first six overs, and the innings couldn’t gain momentum even after rain interrupted the play for almost an hour.

Captain Hardik Pandya made 26 in his return game from injury before he was clean bowled by Sunil Narine, who returned with impressive figures of 1-13 off his four overs.

Kolkata also lost two early wickets of Rahane (21) and Finn Allen (8) while Green holed out at deep fine leg after scoring only 4 off 8 balls before Pandey and Powell put the chase back on track with a 64-run stand.

Jasprit Bumrah, who had a lean season with the ball, clean bowled Pandey with a perfect off-cutter and Powell was smartly snapped by Bosch at backward point before Kolkata reached the target with seven balls to spare when Rinku Singh smashed Will Jacks over his head for a winning boundary.

Earlier, Green struck twice in one over when Pandey at point held onto a well-judged catch of Ryan Rickelton, who top-edged the seamer and then two balls later the Australian found the outside edge of Naman Dhir’s bat.

Dubey kept Mumbai under pressure on a wicket where the ball was gripping as he got the big wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who played onto the fast bowler. Tilak Varma (20) and Pandya struggled to raise a 43-run stand before Bosch smashed two sixes and three fours in the last two overs to give Mumbai some hope.

“I don’t mind playing on such wickets where bowlers have something to do,” Pandya said. “IPL is becoming batting dominated where bowlers are helpless … so I kind of enjoyed this pitch.”

Mumbai had been untidy in fielding throughout the season and on Wednesday Deepak Chahar missed Powell’s catch in the outfield before the West Indian batter hit four boundaries and two sixes in his 30-ball knock.

“I don’t know, we have been quite poor (in the fielding) throughout the season,” Pandya said. “No one wants to do it, but there’s no hiding away, we haven’t taken those chances.”

Mumbai remained ninth and will round off their season with the last league game against Rajasthan.

Rajasthan could seal the final playoff spot if they beat Mumbai. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already qualified for the playoffs.

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