IPL: Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets

Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets with 19 balls to spare in an Indian Premier League match in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

South African captain Quinton de Kock scored a brilliant unbeaten 78 as IPL champions Mumbai Indians inflicted a crushing defeat on England counterpart Eoin Morgan in his first game leading Kolkata Knight Riders.

De Kock hit three sixes and nine fours in a 44-ball demolition of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowlers, as Mumbai Indians made 149-2 in just 16.5 overs to overtake their rivals’ 148-5 off 20 overs.

Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma (35) and de Kock tore into the target from the first ball, which Sharma hit for a four. The pair put on 94 for the first wicket.

According to AFP, Sharma said he was happy to take a “backseat” and let de Kock “bat free.”

“It is special to win as comprehensively as this when chasing. It gives us confidence,” Sharma was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.