Rohit stands tall as Mumbai beat Pune
Rohit Sharma continued his good form with the bat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday when he scored unbeaten 85 as the Mumbai Indians beat the Rising Pune Supergiants by eight wickets for their fifth victory of the season.
Chasing a target of 160 after restricting Pune to 159 for five in 20 overs, Rohit put on 39 for the first wicket with Parthiv Patel (21).
Ambati Rayudu (22) then added 52 for the second wicket with his skipper before holing out to long on off the bowling of spinner Ravi Ashwin.
Rohit though continued on his merry way, hitting eight fours and three sixes, as he and Jos Buttler (23*) were there at the end as Mumbai won with nine balls to spare.
It was Rohit's fifth half-century in nine games this season and his runs will be crucial if Mumbai have any hopes of defending their IPL trophy.
Earlier, Saurabh Tiwary scored 57 while Steve Smith blazed his way to 45 from 23 balls but there wasn't any charge to give the innings a boost late on as the hosts ended on a below-par total.
Mumbai seamer Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers on the day, returning figures of three for 29 in his four overs to make up for lapses in concentration while fielding.
Pune continue to struggle in the debut IPL season, falling to their sixth loss after eight games while Mumbai move up to second on the table.
Latest
-
NewsRohit Sharma praises Mumbai Indians efforts to ease mental strain of bubble
All the Indian Premier League squads will have to stay inside their respective bio-bubbles for the six weeks of the tournament.
-
NewsSmith to join up with Rajasthan Royals despite concussion
Cricket Australia do not want Steve Smith back on the field before he has properly cleared all their concussion protocols.
-
NewsRana eager to learn from fellow southpaw Morgan
Nitish Rana is looking forward to what he hopes will be a breakout season with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 13.
-
NewsKimmince thrilled that Australia Women are blazing a trail again
Australia will face New Zealand in three T20Is and three ODIs at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
-
NewsYorkshire suffer another Lancashire defeat despite impressive Joe Root display
Lancashire booked their place in the Vitality Blast knockout stages.
-
NewsHeather Knight calls on ICC to get women’s cricket back on around the world
England will take the field for the first time since March’s T20 World Cup on Monday.
-
NewsChris Silverwood eager for a winter of cricket after unexpected busy summer
England coach is eyeing a full programme.
-
NewsWicket milestones, Crawley’s heroics and collapses – England’s summer of cricket
After two-and-a-half months, 18 matches and six series across all formats the ride is over for the men’s team
-
NewsEngland’s winners and losers from an exciting summer of cricket
The West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia have all joined England in their ‘bio-secure’ bubble.
-
NewsChris Morris will bring balance to the force that is RCB says Gambhir
Chris Morris joins the Royal Challengers Bangalore after a multi-season stint with the Delhi Capitals.