Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson power Rajasthan Royals to 8-wicket win over Mumbai Indians

Riding on a scintillating batting performance by Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals registered a much-needed eight-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians in the Dream11 Indian Premier League at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Stokes (107 not out) and Samson (54 not out) stitched an unbeaten partnership of 152 runs to help RR upset MI by a comfortable margin in the second encounter of the day.

The fifth win in 12 matches has kept RR chances alive as the race for the playoffs is getting pretty interesting as the tournament approaches its business end. RR has jumped to the sixth spot with ten points under their belt. As many as four teams are vying for the fourth spot in the playoffs.

Despite the fourth defeat, MI have kept their top position intact with 14 points to their credit from 11 games.

England’s star all-rounder Stokes and Samson launched a severe attack on the MI bowlers from the word go to enable RR chase down a target of 196 in the penultimate over.

The 29-year-old Stokes struck his second IPL century, hammering 107 runs off just 60 deliveries. The Englishman’s unbeaten knock consisted of fourteen fours and three huge sixes.

Samson, 25, carved out his 13th IPL fifty, accumulating undefeated 54 from 31 balls. The RR wicketkeeper-batsman hit four boundaries and three sixes to give perfect support to more attacking Stokes.

Robin Uthappa (13) and Steve Smith (11) played little brisk innings at the top of the order as RR were chasing a run-rate of nearly ten runs per over from the beginning.

When Smith was dismissed, the score was 44 for 2 in 4.4 overs. Thereafter, it was all Stokes-Samson show as they put up an exciting exhibition of powerful stroke-making.

Speedster James Pattinson picked up both the wickets for MI as rest of the bowlers failed to contain the flow of runs from the willow of Stokes and Samson.

Earlier, MI amassed a strong total of 195 for the loss of five wickets after stand-in captain Kieron Pollard decided to bat. Hardik Pandya was the highest run-scorer as he dished out a blistering knock of 60 runs off mere 21 deliveries. The MI all-rounder walloped two fours and seven sixes to give the MI innings an ideal finish.

Suryakumar Yadav continued his brilliant form by contributing 40 runs off 26 balls. Ishan Kishan (37) and Sourabh Tiwary (34) did well in the middle overs.
Jofra Archer and Shreyas Gopal bagged a couple of wickets each.

On Monday, Kings XI Punjab (10 points) will clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (12 points) in the crucial encounter at Sharjah. Win will seal a deal for KKR while a fifth consecutive victory will put KXIP in the reckoning for the playoffs berth.

Brief scores

Mumbai Indians 195 for 5 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 60 not out, Suryakumar Yadav 40, Ishan Kishan 37, Sourabh Tiwary 34; Shreyas Gopal 2-30, Jofra Archer 2-31, Kartik Tyagi 1-45) lost to Rajasthan Royals 196 for 2 in 18.2 overs (Ben Stokes 107 not out, Sanju Samson 54 not out, Robin Uthappa 13, Steve Smith 11; James Pattinson 2-40) by eight wickets.

Man-of-the-match: Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals).

Courtesy: orangecitysports.com

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