Lucknow Super Giants skipper K L Rahul smashed an unbeaten 103 yesterday as they handed five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians their sixth straight loss this season. Rahul, playing his 100th Indian Premier League match, steered Lucknow to 199 for four after being put into bat first at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium.
Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma, could only manage 181-9 to lose by 18 runs and remain winless in the Twenty20 tournament this edition, further denting their hopes of making the play-offs. Lucknow registered their fourth win to be placed second behind fellow newcomers and IPL leaders Gujarat Titans.
Fast bowler Avesh Khan returned figures of 3-30 including key scalps of Rohit for six and Dewald Brevis, who made 31 off 13 balls.
Suryakumar Yadav hit 37 and Kieron Pollard attempted to pull off the chase with his brisk 25 but the target proved too big. Rahul led the dominance for Lucknow with key partnerships including a 52-run opening stand with Quinton de Kock (24) before adding 72 with Manish Pandey (38). The Indian opener hit Tymal Mills for a boundary to bring up his third IPL hundred in 56 balls and finish with five sixes in his winning knock.

Karthik stars in Bangalore’s win
Later, Dinesh Karthik smashed an unbeaten 66 to set up a convincing 16-run for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Delhi Capitals. The in-form Karthik steered Bangalore to 189 for five with his 34-ball knock after Glenn Maxwell’s breezy 55 in the second match of the day in Mumbai.
Delhi, who are still searching for their maiden title, could only muster 173-7 despite a 38-ball 66 from David Warner. Karthik, a wicketkeeper-batter, stood out as he put on an unbeaten stand of 97 for the sixth wicket with Shahbaz Ahmed, who hit 32, as Bangalore plundered 69 runs from the last four overs. He made full use of a dropped catch on five to tear into the opposition attack in the final 18 balls and smashed Mustafizur Rahman for four fours and two sixes in a 28-run 18th over. In reply, Delhi faltered after Warner’s departure and Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood struck twice in one over including the big-hitting Rovman Powell for nought as wheels came off the chase. Skipper Rishabh Pant attempted to hit back with his 17-ball 34 but became Mohamed Siraj’s second wicket as Virat Kohli leapt to take a stunning one-handed catch. Bangalore jumped to third in the table.

Brief Scores
Lucknow Super Giants (KL Rahul 103 not out, Manish Pandey 38; Jaydev Unadkat 2/32, Murugan Ashwin 1/33) beat Mumbai Indians (Suryakumar Yadav 37, Dewald Brevis 31; Avesh Khan 3/30, Marcus Stoinis 1/13) by 18 runs
Royal Challengers Bangalore 189/5 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 55, Dinesh Karthik 66 not out, Shahbaz Ahmed 32 not out; Shardul Thakur 1/27) beat Delhi Capitals 173/7 in 20 overs (David Warner 66, Rishabh Pant 34; Josh Hazlewood 3/28, Mohammed Siraj 2/31).