IPL 2020, MI vs RR highlights: Stokes century helps RR win by 8 wickets
Stokes, who plundered 14 fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 60-ball 107, found an able ally in Sanju Samson (54 not out off 31)
 "Ben Stokes, IPL 2020, Rajasthan Royals")
Ben Stokes hits second IPL century. Photo: Sportzpics for BCCI
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Stokes, who plundered 14 fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 60-ball 107, found an able ally in Sanju Samson (54 not out off 31) as their unbroken 152-run partnership allowed Royals to make short work of the 196-run target. They cantered to victory in 18.2 overs.
Mumbai had put up an imposing 195 for five courtesy a 21-ball 60 Hardik Pandya, who smashed seven sixes and two fours. It was the fourth loss for Mumbai , who remain in comfortable position at the top of the standings.
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The comprehensive win over defending champions not only kept Royals alive in the tournament, it also eliminated Chennai Super Kings from the competition.
The night belonged to Stokes, who tore into the Mumbai attack after RR lost opener Robin Uthappa (13) and Steve Smith (11) early. The southpaw was back to his very best, having struggled with his timing in the earlier games.
Samson joined Stokes, who had collected four boundaries off Trent Boult in the third over.
The Englishman then went on offensive against Krunal Pandya, collecting two fours before a boundary and six against Rahul Chahar with Royals racing to 75 for two after eight overs.
Stokes and Samson played shots at will with RR collecting 18 and 19 runs off the 13th and 14th over bowled by James Pattinson and Chahar.
Stokes completed his 100 in 59 balls, with a thumping six over deep mid-wicket and fittingly finished the match with a boundary.
Earlier, Mumbai suffered a mini-collapse in the middle-overs and but late hitting from Hardik and Saurabh Tiwary (34 of 25) enabled the defending champions to amass 74 runs in the last four overs.
Tiwary and Hardik shared a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Tiwary was brutal against Archer (2-31) in the 17th over, smashing two fours and a maximum while Hardik hammered four sixes off Ankit Rajpoot (0-60) in the 18th over, which went for 27 runs.
Hardik launched into Kartik Tyagi (1-45) in the final over, hitting him for three sixes and two fours. His blitzkrieg can prove to be the difference in the game.
After Mumbai lost opener Quinton De Kock (6) early, Ishan Kishan (37 off 36 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (40 off 26) rallied the innings with their 83-run second-wicket stand.
Kishan and Surya again tore into pacer Rajpoot, smashing a six each as Mumbai raced to 59 for one after six overs.
Surya went on the offensive against Shreyas Gopal, collecting two boundaries in the ninth over.
But Rajasthan pulled things back by dismissing Kishan, Surya and Kieron Pollard (6) in quick succession as Mumbai slipped to 101 for four.
Kishan perished courtesy a one-handed blinder from Archer at third-man, off Tyagi, and then Gopal removed Surya and Pollard in the 13th over.
While Surya gave a sitter to Ben Stokes, Pollard was undone by a googly, which uprooted his stumps.
IPL 2020: MI vs RR full scorecardMI vs RR playing 11
Mumbai Indians has made one change in its playing 11 as James Pattinson replaced Nathan Coulter-Nile. Rajasthan Royals has not made any changes in its playing 11.
MI playing 11: Robin Uthappa, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson(w), Jos Buttler, Steven Smith(c), Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Ankit Rajpoot, Kartik Tyagi.
RR playing 11: Quinton de Kock(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard(c), Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
RR live score after 18.2 Overs: 196-2
James Pattinson [3.0-0-30-2] is back into the attack
Ball 2: Stokes punches towards deep extra cover for FOUR and wins the match for RR and keep their team in IPL 2020 playoffs hunt
Ball 1: Stokes wallopes towards deep mid wicket for SIX and completes his MAIDEN IPL CENTURY.
Rajasthan Royals needs 10 runs in 12 balls
RR live score after 18 Overs: 186-2
Boult comes into the attack...
Rajasthan Royals needs 14 runs in 18 balls
RR live score after 17 Overs: 182-2
Bumrah continues...
Rajasthan Royals needs 24 runs in 24 balls
TIMEOUT
RR live score after 16 Overs: 172-2
Trent Boult [2.0-0-21-0] is back into the attack
Rajasthan Royals needs 39 runs in 30 balls
RR live score after 15 Overs: 157-2
Jasprit Bumrah [2.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack
Rajasthan Royals needs 52 runs in 36 balls
RR live score after 14 Overs: 144-2
Rahul Chahar continues...
Rajasthan Royals needs 71 runs in 42 balls
RR live score after 13 Overs: 125-2
James Pattinson [2.0-0-12-2] is back into the attack
Ball 6: Samson guides through short third man for FOUR.
RR live score after 12 Overs: 107-2
Rahul Chahar [1.0-0-15-0] is back into the attack
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First Published: Oct 25 2020 | 4:46 PM IST
