Rana, Buttler consolidate Mumbai's top-of-the-table spot
An 85-run partnership between Nitish Rana and Jos Buttler helped Mumbai ace their chase of 177 against Gujarat, improving their position at the top of the table
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Apr-2017
Jos Buttler's premeditated scoop over fine leg was the highlight of his innings • BCCI
After being put in to bat, Gujarat had been reduced to 99 for 3 against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium. However, a 26-ball 48 from Dinesh Karthik helped Gujarat plunder 77 off the last 38 balls. Then, off the second ball of Mumbai's innings, an outswinger from Praveen Kumar skewed off the outside half of Parthiv Patel's bat to backward point. Gujarat had all the momentum.
Mumbai persisted with Jos Buttler to at the top. The early wicket meant Nitish Rana was promoted to No. 3. Together, they struck an 85-run stand off just 54 balls, a partnership that eased Mumbai towards their target of 177. Rana's sublime timing - cuts, lofted cover drives and pulls - helped him race away to a 32-ball fifty, his second in four games, making him the highest run-getter of the season.
With Rana's pyrotechnics, Buttler was satisfied with strike rotation, but his contribution to the stand was no less significant. He hit one four and two sixes - a scoop over fine leg and a heave over long-on.
Soon after his fifty, Rana toe-ended a cut to the keeper on 53. His stand with Buttler had shifted the momentum towards Mumbai and put them on course for the 19th successful chase at the Wankhede Stadium in 21 games.