Mumbai Indians beat Kohli’s team, seal their place in IPL playoffs

Mumbai Indians achieved a five-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

The victory nearly sealed Mumbai Indians’ place in the playoffs as they sit on top of the points table with 16 points and a healthy net run-rate of 1.186.

Despite the loss, Bangalore are still second with 14 points, ahead of Delhi Capitals on net run-rate.

Suryakumar Yadav’s best score this season — an unbeaten 79 off 43 balls — eased Mumbai Indians to 166-5 in 19.1 overs when he drove Muhammed Siraj to extra cover for the winning boundary, according to The Associated Press.

Jasprit Bumrah (3-14) had earlier pegged back Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last five overs and restricted Virat Kohli’s team to 164-6 after captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and elected to field.

Yadav anchored Mumbai Indians’ run-chase and decimated the figures of Dale Steyn when he hit South African fast bowler for three boundaries in an over.

Steyn, returning to the side after playing two IPL games last month, finished with expensive figures of 0-43 as Yadav also struck a six off the paceman’s full toss over the fine leg boundary.

“It was a strange phase of batting out there where everything we hit went straight to the fielders,” Kohli was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.

“They bowled good channels and kept us 20 (runs) short of a par total.”