Twitter Reactions: Buttler, Rana help Mumbai Indians register a magnificent run chase

The crowd witnessed a spectacular run fest at the Holkar Cricket stadium at Indore. In a pitch that could at best be described as a bowler’s nightmare with short boundaries, there were some tremendous fireworks on display tonight.

Earlier in the day, it was Captain Rohit Sharma who won the toss as Mumbai Indians elected to field first. They had an unchanged XI from their last game. On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab made four changes. Shaun Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Gurkeerat Mann and Swapnil Singh were brought into the XI.

Kings XI Punjab began slowly but steadily. Just as the power play was about to end, Shaun Marsh was back to the pavilion. While Hashim Amla continued to rotate the strike well, Wriddhiman Saha struggled to do the same and was soon dismissed to reduce Punjab to 80/2 at the end of 11 overs.

However what followed was a carnage by the Kings XI Punjab batsmen. Opener Hashim Amla and Captain Glenn Maxwell combined for a stupendous 83 run partnership from just 33 balls. Everyone right from Mitchell McClenaghan to Lasith Malinga were taken away to the cleaners.

While Maxwell got out scoring an electrifying 40(18), it was Amla who was the star for the Punjab batting line-up as he ended up scoring a scintillating hundred. Their splendid effort took Punjab’s total to a mammoth total of 198/4.

However, Mumbai Indians batsmen walked into the crease all geared up. Jos Buttler and Parthiv Patel were in destruction mode as everything that the Kings XI Punjab bowlers had to offer ended up going over the fence. Mumbai Indians didn’t allow the pressure of the large target to get into them at any stage as they powered their way to 82/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Nitish Rana who has been in top notch form continued his golden run as he slammed 62 runs from 34 balls in an innings that had no boundaries but 7 sixes. However, it was Jos Buttler who stole the limelight with an astounding innings 77 runs from just 37 balls.

Rohit Sharma wasn’t even required to bat as Mumbai Indians went on to win by 8 wickets with more than 4 overs to spare. It was certainly not a great day for the bowlers as both Ishant Sharma and Malinga went for 58 runs in their four-over quota. Jos Buttler was deservingly awarded the man of the match for his fantastic knock.

Here are some of the amazing Twitter reactions that took place during the course of the game.

Serious shooting from @josbuttler tonight! Back up nicely by @parthiv9 and Rana! Proper bowling from Bumrah and Krunal on a serious wicket!

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) April 20, 2017

@lukewright204 I can't wait to see our boys getting involved with @allstarscricket A formidable opening partnership I reckon! @ECB_cricket https://t.co/XT7Zlxk0D7

— Jonathan Tivey (@JonTivey) April 20, 2017

Finished highlights in Indore…felt like book cricket 6-4-4-6-6..small ground..Top batting @amlahash @josbuttler @parthiv9 #Rana @mipaltan

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 20, 2017

No question…. @josbuttler is a Freak…… #IPL2017

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 20, 2017

The #MumbaiIndians have just made a mockery of a large run-chase @mipaltan

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 20, 2017

Holly smokes @mipaltan looking very impressive…what an easy chase for them. Are going to do this with plenty of spare balls #KXIPvMI #IPL

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 20, 2017

Wow some serious hitting by Mumbai. @josbuttler smoking them. ??

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) April 20, 2017

Nitish Rana:

34 Balls
62 Runs
7 Sixes

Interestingly No Fours!

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 20, 2017

Ishant Sharma's bowling figure worse than Sonakshi Sinha's.

— maithun (@Being_Humor) April 20, 2017

Mumbai Indians win by 8 wickets and how! Nitish Rana and Jos Buttler made this look like a piece of cake. #MI #KXIPvMI

— Nupur Malankar (@ThisisNoopur) April 20, 2017

@Being_Humor Ishant Sharma will be the 1st bowler of history holding the Orange cap

— Parashar kalita (@Parashar_kalita) April 20, 2017

The oRANAge cap holder has made a mark & how.#NitishRana your being noticed & how. Well done @mipaltan !

5th Straight WIN #KXIPvMI

— Krushant Shah (@krushant) April 20, 2017

Sixes are so common in this match that cheerleaders should start celebrating singles and dot balls. #MIvKXIP

— Smoking Skills (@SmokingSkills_) April 20, 2017

Nitish Rana is a special T20 player…the next lot of Indian T20 cricketers is almost ready. Proud moment. #IPL #KXIPvMI

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 20, 2017

Fair dos to the @mipaltan , most other #IPL teams would have dropped their token Englishman by now & replaced him with a big strong Aussie..

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) April 20, 2017

This is an extraordinary display of power from @josbuttler!!

— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) April 20, 2017

Come on @josbuttler I don't care who wins but love watching this man strike a cricket ball! ? #IPL10

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) April 20, 2017

This is now the highest powerplay score for MI in #IPL going past 78 runs vs CSK in 2008 at Mumbai. #KXIPvMI

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 20, 2017

If Parthiv Patel was a FMCG product, he would come with an expiry date i.e. 6 overs (powerplay).

— Ojas. (@Ojasism) April 20, 2017

This match has 4 Sharmas & 2 Pandyas. With so many Brahmins around, this looks less like a cricket ground & more like a Havan Kund. #KXIPvMI

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) April 20, 2017

A masterclass from Hashim Amla, one of the best modern day batsman. Love the calmness .#KXIPvMI

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 20, 2017

Mighty score by Punjab thru Amla century & superb Maxwell cameo. Gauntlet thrown at Mumbai batsmen. Good pitch but little margin for error

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 20, 2017

Mumbai Indians can win this provided Nita Ambani requests Manjrekar to call Pollard "brainless" #KXIPvMI #IPL2017

— TheGoanPatiala (@TheGoanPatiala) April 20, 2017

Hashim Aaaaaaaaamla???What a player, what a champion! @amlahash @IPL

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 20, 2017

Hashim having the best day in T20 cricket…Malinga having his worst. #IPL #KXIPvMI

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 20, 2017

Williamson yesterday and Amla today. Class players showing class is permanent, across all formats. #KXIPvMI

— Sir Lazy (@iLazyLad) April 20, 2017

Kings XI batting like a team that knows that Ishant Sharma will be defending this total.

— Sandeep Kadian (@GappistanRadio) April 20, 2017

Even after conceding 28 runs in an over, it is not the most expensive over of the season. Just goes to show the greatness of Dinda sir.

— …. (@ynakg) April 20, 2017

Mumbai going to regret getting Saha out… #ipl

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) April 20, 2017

#Maxwell treating McClenaghan as if he is McChicken. #IPL

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) April 20, 2017

When he is batting like this @Gmaxi_32 appears to be from a different planet!!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 20, 2017

Maxwell is clearing the boundary so easily you could mistake him for a Bangladeshi

— TheFrustratedIndian (@FrustIndian) April 20, 2017

Chicken Tandoori fucking Vadapav. This is real food porn. #KXIPvMI #IPL

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 20, 2017

Maxwell 2014 mode

— Sandeep Kadian (@GappistanRadio) April 20, 2017

Rohit has kept his options open for the big hitters. Wise use of bowling resources. Rohit is using his defense (read bowling) well here.

— Clive ? (@vanillawallah) April 20, 2017