3 defeats in a row for Hardik’s Mumbai Indians as Boult, Chahal's three-fers and Parag's fifty help Rajasthan Royals claim no.1 spot on points table

Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) humbled the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium with a six-wicket win. After Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal's three-fers, in-form Riyan Parag's unbeaten half-century led RR home with 27 balls as Hardik Pandya-led MI suffered their third consecutive defeat in the season. 
 

Boult strikes thrice

Earlier, Samson won the toss and opted to field first. Boult continued to torment the top-order batters with the new ball. Former MI skipper Rohit Sharma and Naman Dhir departed after bagging golden ducks. In his second over, Boult got rid of impact player Dewald Brevis for a golden duck as well. In the fourth over, Nandre Burger ended Ishan Kishan's stay at the crease. He scored 16 runs from 14 balls. From 20/4, MI needed a partnership. Tilak Varma smashed a six in the next over. Then Hardik smashed Burger for three fours in the sixth over. MI were 46/4 after powerplay overs.

MI post below par total

Varma took on Avesh Khan and smashed him for a maximum. Hardik hit a few boundaries as the fifth-wicket partnership turned 50. Chahal ended Hardik's stay at the crease. He went for the big shot but got caught in the deep. He scored 34 runs from 21 balls. Piyush Chawla came ahead of Tim David to counter the spinners and fell to Avesh for a single-digit score as Shimron Hetmyer took a stunner. Chahal in his third over ended Varma's gritty knock. He scored 32 runs from 29 balls. Chahal in his final over dismissed Gerald Coetzee. He conceded just 11 runs from four overs. In the penultimate over, David was dismissed too. He scored 17 runs from 24 balls. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Madhwal did not let MI get bowled out. They posted 125/9. 

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RR top-order disappoints

In the run chase, 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka made Yashasvi Jaiswal his maiden IPL wicket. Maphaka was hit for two fours before Jaiswal was caught by David. In his second over, he conceded three more fours. Bumrah was expensive in his second over too conceding one boundary each off Jos Buttler and Samson's bat. Madhwal got the breakthrough as Samson dragged one on to the stumps. After powerplay overs, RR were 46/2. In his second over, Madhwal got the wicket of Buttler with a short ball. He scored 13 runs from 16 balls. 

ALSO READ: 'Haven't seen any Indian cricketer getting booed like...': WC-winning captain after home crowd boos Hardik Pandya during MI vs RR clash
 

Parag leads RR home

Parag took his time and then hit Gerald Coetzee for two fours in the eighth over. After two quiet overs, Coetzee was expensive again with one boundary each off Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin's bat. Madhwal returned to provide another breakthrough. He contributed with a run-a-ball 16. Impact player Shubham Dubey came in to bat. Parag decided to end the run chase early. In the 16th over, he hit two sixes and one four off Coetzee to finish the run chase. He remained unbeaten for 54 runs from 39 balls including five fours and three sixes.

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