Rahane, Raghuvanshi fifties power KKR to 220 against Mumbai Indians

Mumbai: Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (67) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51) struck vital half-centuries but Kolkata Knight Riders posted a par score of 220 for 4 in their Indian Premier League clash against Mumbai Indians Sunday.

On a placid wicket, Shardul Thakur (339) provided Mumbai with crucial breakthroughs as their bowlers could not really impose themselves in their maiden outing.

Both senior pacers Trent Boult (038) and Jasprit Bumrah (035) went wicketless, but India’s pace spearheads’ 18th and 20th over stopped KKR from getting closer to 250.

Rahane began with a wristy flick over wide long-on with exquisite timing for a six off Boult in the first over. KKR got the impetus when Hardik Pandya (139) erred with line and lengths throughout the fourth over to give away 26 runs.

The skipper helped himself with two pick-up shots down the leg for consecutive sixes while Finn Allen (37 off 17 balls) drilled Pandya down the ground for a powerful hit for four, ending with a scoop past the ‘keeper and short fine leg for a third boundary.

Before that, Allen had clobbered two sixes and a four off debutant Allah Ghazanfar (051) to collect 17 runs in the third over.

Despite Thakur striking on his second ball to get rid of Finn, caught by Tilak Varma off an innocuous at long-on, KKR stood a happier side at 781 after the powerplay.

KKR crossed the 100-run mark inside the eighth over, and Rahane looked set for a triple-digit score at one stage, striking over 200.