IPL9 KKR vs MI: Rohit steers Mumbai Indians to victory
A magnificent unbeaten half century from Rohit Sharma (84) has helped defending champions Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
Chasing a daunting target of 188, the Mumbai skipper paced his innings beautifully as they made 188-4 in 19.1 overs.
After a solid opening stand of 53 with Parthiv Patel (23), the innings gathered momentum during a 66-run stand with Buttler (41) for the fourth wicket.
Sharma's 54-ball knock was studded with 10 fours and two sixes.
Earlier, sizzling half centuries by Gautam Gambhir (64) and Manish Pandey (52) followed a powerful cameo from Andre Russell (36) helped Kolkata Knight Riders make a formidable 187-5 after being put into bat.
MI innings
Rohit sizzles slamming three consecutive boundaries off Russell in the penultimate over as Mumbai race towards victory. MI 187-4, 19 overs.
Suryakumar pouches a skier from Buttler. MI 175-4, 18.3 overs.
Jos Buttler c Yadav b Russell 41 (22b 3x4 3x6)
The 50 partnership between Rohit and Buttler comes off just 26 deliveries. MI 166-3, 17 overs.
Russell goes for 18 as Buttler cracks a boundary and two consecutive sixes over extra cover. MI 157-3, 16 overs.
Buttler gets into the act smashing a boundary and towering six off Hogg who goes for 17. MI 139-3, 15 overs.
Rohit completes a 38-ball 50 as Mumbai are on track to chase down the target. MI 122-3, 14 overs.
McClenaghan's cameo comes to an end miscuing a full toss from Yadav. MI 109-3, 12 overs.
M McClenaghan c Munro b Kuldeep Yadav 20 (8b 3x6)
McClenaghan comes out firing hammering two consecutive sixes off Chawla. MI 101-2, 11 overs.
Pandya perishes attempting to muscle Chawla out of the ground, MI 87-2, 10.1 overs.
Hardik Pandya c Pandey b Chawla 9 (10b)
Kolkata get a breakthrough as Patel is stranded after being sent back failing to beat Hogg's throw. MI 53-1, 5.5 overs.
Parthiv Patel run out 23 (20b 4x4)
Patel gets into his stride cracking two consecutive boundaries off Russell. MI 27-0, 3 overs.
Rohit flicks Russell over square leg for the first six of the innings as Mumbai begin chasing 188.
KKR innings
Sizzling half centuries by Gautam Gambhir (64) and Manish Pandey (52) followed a powerful cameo from Andre Russell (36) helped Kolkata Knight Riders make a formidable 187-5 after being put into bat.
Colin Munro run out 4 (5b)
Gambhir's super knock comes to an end with Patel running back to pouch a skier. KKR 170-4, 18.1 overs.
Gautam Gambhir c Patel b Pandya 64 (52b 4x4 1x6)
McClenaghan ends Russell's blistering cameo. KKR 164-3, 17.2 overs.
Andre Russell b McClenaghan 36 (17b 1x4 4x6)
Russell is on fire hammering two sixes off Southee. KKR 138-2, 15 overs.
Harbhajan strikes as Pandey chips a return catch. KKR 121-2, 13.4 overs.
Manish Pandey c & b Harbhajan Singh 52 (29b 3x4 3x6)
Pandey also completes his half century off just 26 balls. KKR 118-1, 13 overs.
Gambhir completes a 39-ball half century pacing his innings beautifully. KKR 108-1, 12 overs.
Pandey is turning it on whacking Harbhajan for his second six. KKR 81-1, 10 overs.
Rohit drops a straightforward catch off his opposite number Gambhir off Suchith. KKR 71-1, 9 overs.
Spin introduced as Harbhajan comes into the attack.
Pandey hits the first six of the match slamming Pandya straight down the ground. KKR 52-1, 7 overs
Pandey gets into his stride with a crunching pull shot to midwicket off McClenaghan. KKR 40-1, 6 overs.
Gambhir is on song whipping Southee for two consecutive boundaries. KKR 34-1, 5 overs.
McClenaghan strikes as Uthappa miscues a short pitched delivery to point. KKR 21-1, 3.4 overs.
Robin Uthappa c Pollard b McClenaghan 8 (10b 1x4)
Uthappa whips Southee to midwicket for the first boundary while Gambhir also slams one to the fence. KKR 19-0, 3 overs.
Mumbai Indians have won the toss and opted to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
Playing XI
KKR: Uthappa, Gambhir, Pandey, Munro, Yadav, Pathan, Russell, Chawla, Hastings, K Yadav, Hogg
MI: Patel, Sharma, Pandya, Buttler, Rayudu, Pollard, Harbhajan, J Suchith, Southee, McClenaghan, Bumrah
The high-riding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 5 of IPL 2016 at Eden Gardens Kolkata on Wednesday.
KKR romped to a nine-wicket in their opening match after dismissing Delhi Daredevils for 98.
Defending champions Mumbai once got off to a poor start to the tournament in the tournament opener against Rising Pune Supergiants who chased down a modest target of 122 to stroll to a nine-wicket win.
MI have won 11 of their 16 previous matches against KKR. However, last season both teams shared honours winning their respective home fixtures.