Dream Debut for Ashwani as Pacers Lift MI to Victory

IPL Newcomer Takes Four Wickets on Lively Wankhede Track as Kolkata Batting Unit Implodes for Just 116

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MUMBAI: There's a reason why pace bowlers love the opportunity of bowling at the Wankhede Stadium. Among Indian venues, it is a ground which offers pace, bounce and movement. In Monday evening's Indian Premier League game, the conditions were ideal for them with breeze blowing across the ground from the Arabian Sea.

To their credit, MI's pace attack did well to exploit the conditions to telling effect after electing to bowl against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar set the tone with wickets in the first two overs, left-armer Ashwani Kumar was absolutely lethal on his debut while captain Hardik Pandya also bowled expertly to maintain pressure. The result - KKR were blown away for 116 in 16.2 overs.

After seeing their team finish at the bottom of the pile last year and starting this season with two losses, MI fans finally had an occasion to celebrate as their batters completed the chase in 12.5 overs for an eight-wicket win. Rohit Sharma missed out again (13 runs) but opener Ryan Rickelton smashed an unbeaten 62 (41 balls).