The Mumbai Indians have clinched their first victory in the Indian Premier League this season by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 18 runs.
The home side won the toss and put the visitors into bat, and Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel got the innings off to a brisk start, with the West Indian batsman leading the way courtesy of a flurry of early boundaries.
The duo were progressing nicely before Patel was dismissed for 12 when he was bowled by David Wiese to leave the Indians at 47-1 at the end of the sixth over.
Simmons and Unmukt Chand were not deterred by the departure of Patel and began to take the attack to the Bangalore bowlers to up their run rate to nine an over, while Simmons brought up his half-century off 36 deliveries.
Mumbai passed the 100-run mark but Simmons was to fall when he was caught by Varun Aaron off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal for 59 to leave the visitors 113-2.
However, Rohit Sharma arrived at the crease and added impetus to the innings with a vast array of shots around the wicket as he and Chand put together a partnership of 63 in just four overs.
Chand was to depart after reaching his half-century as he was caught by Virat Kohli off the bowling of Chahal for 58, while Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu followed him back to pavillion for low scores.
Sharma fell when he was caught and bowled by Wiese for a blistering 42 runs off just 15 balls which included four sixes. Hardik Pandya ensured his side passed the 200-run mark with some late hitting to guide his team to a score of 209-7 in their 20 overs.
The Bangalore reply started poorly as Chris Gayle struggled to get the ball away, while Manvinder Bisla fell for 20 when he was bowled by Harbhajan Singh.
Gayle and Kohli fell cheaply as well as the visitors began to take control of the match, with the home side stuttering to 62-3 in the 11th over.
AB de Villiers did his utmost to bring Bangalore back into the match as he smashed 41 runs off just 10 deliveries, with five fours and three sixes. However, he was to depart when he was caught by Pollard off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah.
Wiese and Iqbal Abdulla attempted to keep the home side in touch with the run rate, but the demand grew on them and Abdulla fell in the final over going for a extra run, which was to end Bangalore's hopes of victory as they slumped to an 18-run defeat.
Simon Sinclair
