DUBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders won their second straight Indian Premier League match with a seven-wicket thrashing of holders Mumbai Indians on Thursday to move into the top four.
Opener Venkatesh Iyer smashed 53 and put on an attacking second-wicket partnership of 88 with Rahul Tripathi, who made an unbeaten 74, as Kolkata chased down their target of 156 in 15.1 overs in Abu Dhabi.
Iyer has made an early impact in the revived Twenty20 tournament after his match-winning unbeaten 41 in the team’s previous win over Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“The first two games in this second phase has been a great template for us to play,” Morgan said after his team jumped to fourth in the eight-team table led by Delhi Capitals.
“There’s only one way for us to go in the points table, and that’s up.”
Left-hander Iyer reached his 50 off 25 balls to take apart the Mumbai bowling led by New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult.
He fell to pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah but Tripathi kept up the charge in his 42-ball blitz laced with eight fours and three sixes.
