Kohli hits 50 as Bengaluru outpower Mumbai in IPL - Gujarat beat Lucknow Giants

MUMBAI, India:

Half-centuries from Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar set up an 18-run victory for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over host Mumbai Indians on Sunday in the Indian Premier League.

Kohli was out for a 38-ball 50, which included five fours and a solitary six. Co-opener Salt was quicker with 78 off 36, with six sixes and six fours. Skipper Patidar was the fastest of the trio, smashing 53 runs off only 20 balls with five sixes and four boundaries, as Bengaluru scored 240-4 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Mumbai reached 222-5, led by Sherfane Rutherford's undefeated 71 off 31 balls. But the game was effectively over when the hosts were down to 154-5 in 15.3 overs.

Defending champions Bengaluru are third in the 10-team standings with six points from four games. Mumbai are eighth with two points and have just one win in their four games.

Earlier Sunday, Prasidh Krishna took 4-28, followed by half-centuries from Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill, as Gujarat Titans comfortably beat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets.

Krishna's spell helped to restrict Lucknow to 164-8 in 20 overs on their home turf. Buttler (60 runs off 37 balls) and skipper Gill (56 off 40) propelled the chase as Gujarat finished with 165-3 in 18.4 overs.

Gujarat moved to fifth with two wins in four games. It was a second loss for Lucknow, who are sixth behind Gujarat on run-rate.

SUPERB START

Put into bat, Bengaluru got off to a superb start at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Salt and Kohli sped to 50 off 26 balls and then 71-0 in the powerplay.

Salt hit his second half-century of the season as he and Kohli put on 120 off 65 balls, until Salt's dismissal in the 11th over, caught off Shardul Thakur.

Mumbai's troubles didn't end there as Patidar reached 50 off only 17 balls.

Patidar and Kohli added 65 off 23 balls, before both fell within eight deliveries. Bengaluru were 194-3 in 16 overs.

Tim David struck 34 not out off 16 balls against his former team as Bengaluru breached 240 for the second time this season - and their sixth highest IPL score overall.

In reply, Rohit Sharma retired hurt for 19 off 13 balls. Ryan Rickelton scored 37 off 22 before he was the first of wrist spinner Suyash Sharma's two wickets in the eighth over.

Mumbai were down to 74-2 - and missing Sharma - as Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 22) and Hardik Pandya added 47 off 27 balls.

Krunal Pandya got rid of Yadav, while his younger brother Hardik Pandya hit 40 off 22 balls with six fours and a six. He was caught off Jacob Duffy in the 15th over, with Naman Dhir (1) following shortly after.

Rutherford entertained the crowd with nine sixes, but Mumbai were never in the hunt for victory.

It was Mumbai's sixth loss in eight games against Bengaluru.

- AP