Gujarat Lions become the first team to qualify for the play-offs, and their resounding thrashing of the defending champions meant that Hyderabad Lions also finish in top four, irrespective of tomorrow's results. Mumbai Indians are as good as out.


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After restricting Mumbai Indians to a below-par 172, Gujarat Lions chased down the target with 13 balls remaining, thanks to a 95-run second wicket partnership between skipper Suresh Raina and Brendon McCullum.


The Lions chase started on a horrendous note, losing Aaron Finch in the first over to a maiden-wicket effort from R Vinay Kumar.


And Kumar's first over was the only bright spot in the innings for the defending champions. Yes, there was a brilliant knock from Nitish Rana in the Mumbai innings though.


The youngster hit 70 runs off just 36 runs to rescue the Mumbai innings after losing three quick wickets on a top where pundits suggested 200+ total was written all over it.


Jos Buttler played a good innings, and at one time they were on course for a big total. But brilliant death over bowling from Dwayne Bravo and Praveen Kumar restricted the total to 172.


And it proved too little for a strong and confident batting unit from Gujarat.


With that the Lions have become, officially, the first team to book a play-off spot. Raina was adjudged MoM.


They are joined, in the last four, by Sunrisers Hyderabad. If David Warner's side beat Kolkata Knight Riders tomorrow, SRH will most likely finish top, and GL second.


GUJARAT LIONS INNINGS; TARGET 173


Over 17.5 || Score 173/4 (Smith 37; Jadeja 21)


Needing six more runs, Dwayne Smith started with a single off Mitchell McClenaghan's final over.


Two dot balls, then a sloppy effort from Martin Guptill at deep mid-wicket meant a four to Jadeja. Scores tied, then a lofted shot for a single to win the match.


Over 17 || Score 167/4 (Smith 36; Jadeja 16)


Jasprit Bumrah returned for his final over.


A single to Dwayne Smith off the first ball. A double from Ravindra Jadeja, with questions asked for a run-out. Referred and not-out. Jadeja survived on the turn.


Then, a four. Down the leg, and no issue for Jadeja while dispatching through fine leg boundary.


Three singles, and dot ball for a 10-run over. Bumrah's figures: 4-0-42-1.


Over 16 || Score 157/4 (Smith 34; Jadeja 9)


First over for Hardik Pandya, and a four to start his spell. No means keeping Dwayne Smith quiet today.


A good length but hittable delivery on the off stump, and Smith pummeled, for a four. A dot ball, then a single. A wide followed, then a dot.


Ravindra Jadeja hit the next ball for a four, lofted over mid-on.  A dot to end the 10-run over.


TIME-OUT.


Over 15 || Score 147/4 (Smith 29; Jadeja 5)


Mitchell McClenaghan returned for his third over. A relatively quiet over from the Kiwi bowler. Nine runs, which included two fours — one each to Dwayne Smith, off the first ball; and to Ravindra Jadeja, off the last ball.


Gujarat Lions need another 26 runs from 30 balls.


Over 14 || Score 138/4 (Smith 24; Jadeja 1)


Harbhajan Singh continued for his fourth and final over. Leaked runs, 12, as Dwayne Smith started hitting.


A six and a four off the fourth and fifth balls.


Gujarat Lions need another 35 runs from 36 balls. Harbhajan's figures 4-0-36-1


Over 13 || Score 126/4 (Smith 13; Jadeja 0)


Another wicket for Mumbai Indians. A big one, the rival skipper who was in a murderous mood.


Credit to Jasprit Bumrah for keeping it straight and simple. Raina wanted found a top-edge and a skier for Jos Buttler to complete the catch.


WICKET: Suresh Raina c Jos Buttler b Jasprit Bumrah 58 (36b)


That happened off the second ball of the over, then Dwayne Smith hit the next ball for a four. Straight.


Good over for Mumbai. Five runs and a wicket.


Over 12 || Score 121/3 (Raina 58; Smith 8)


Despite the fall of wickets, Gujarat Lions continued to score runs. 10 runs from Harbhajan Singh's third over.


A single to Suresh Raina to start the over, then a no ball to Dwayne Smith. But the West Indian hit the next ball for a six over square leg. Three more singles more, and Lions need 52 more runs.


Over 11 || Score 111/3 (Raina 56; Smith 0)


Another wicket for Mumbai Indians. Contentious decision, but Dinesh Karthik was gone. Clipped thigh pad and umpire got it wrong. Caught behind.


WICKET: Diensh Karthik c Jos Buttler b Vinay Kumar 3 (4b)


That happened off the last ball of Vinay Kumar's third over. 11 runs and wicket. New man is Dwayne Smith, and he joined Suresh Rain, who had just reached his fifty.


Over 10 || Score 100/2 (Raina 47; Karthik 2)


Finally, the break-through that Mumbai Indians needed at Kanpur.


A dot ball to Brendon McCullum, the wicket. Bowled. It looked a wasted stumping chance, but on review, it's revealed that a straighter from Harbhajan Singh have indeed hit the top of the off stump.


WICKET: Brendon McCullum b Harbhajan Singh 48 (27b)


Dinesh Karthik is the new man, and four runs from the over. Also, 100 up for Gujarat Lions.


96-run stand in nine overs between MCullum and Suresh Raina have provided a solid foundation to Lions chase.


Over 9 || Score 95/1 (McCullum 48; Raina 45)


Mitchell McClenaghan returned for his second over. Good start from the Kiwi pacer.


Three singles off the first three balls. Then brilliant fielding at deep mid-wicket by a rolling Kieron Pollard restrict Brendon McCullum's pull shot to a single. Two more runs and six from the over.


Gujarat Lions need another 77 runs from 11 overs.


Over 8 || Score 90/1 (McCullum 46; Raina 42)


Harbhajan Singh on for Mumbai Indians, and another over with back-to-back fours to start.


Brendon McCullum punished the loosner, on middle and leg and shot, with a pull shot. It was followed by a cut shot, for another four.


Good response from the seasoned spinner though. Only two singles, and 10 runs from the over.


Over 7 || Score 80/1 (McCullum 37; Raina 41)


Krunal Pnadya continued with his second over. And back-to-back fours to Suresh Raina to start.


A single, then a dot ball.


Brendon McCullum took a single, then a dot ball to end the 10-run over.


Gujarat Lions need another 93 runs from 13 overs.


Over 6 || Score 70/1 (McCullum 36; Raina 32)


Jasprit Bumrah returned with his second over, and the India pacer struggled with his control. Lots of freebies on offer, and Suresh Raina and Brendom McCullum feasted on those loose deliveries.


Raina swept the first ball of the over for a four. A dot ball, then a six from the third ball. A mis-timed shot, but good enough to sail over mid-wicket boundary.


A single, then McCullum worked the full toss on leg stump through square leg. Another four followed, as the Kiwi legend slapped the last ball over cover.


19 runs from the over. 37 runs in two overs.


TIME-OUT.


Over 5 || Score 51/1 (McCullum 28; Raina 21)


Krunal Pandya on for Mumbai Indians, and joy for Gujarat Lions.


Brendon McCullum welcomed the left-arm spinner with a four. A lofted cover drive shot. The a double, before the Kiwi batsman hot another four through mid-wicket.


Two singles, then a six as McCullum played a pull shot and it sailed over deep mid-wicket boundary.


18 runs from the over.


Over 4 || Score 33/1 (McCullum 11; Raina 20)


A painful blow to start the over for Vinay Kumar. Brendon McCullum hit back a full toss, and it hit Kumar's right shoe. Gory, it could have been.


The bowler somehow survived the drill, but it was followed by a four off another full toss, behind square leg.


A dot ball, then a brilliant single-handed pcik-up from Kieron Pollard at cover restricted a sure four to a single. 


Two more singles and seven runs from the over.


Over 3 || Score 26/1 (McCullum 5; Raina 19)


A lucky four to start the over, then a dropped catch to give life to Suresh Raina. Mitchell McClenaghan not happy.


A full blooded drive from Raina and Hardik Pandya, at cover, let it slip pass through his legs for a four. Then, a short ball followed which was played by Raina from back-foot. But the ball could only travel to mid-on, where Krunal Pandya dropped. In the ensuing melee, Lions batsmen survived a run-out chance.


A dot ball, then Raina hit back-to-back fours and a six. 18 runs from the over.


The first one was over mid-wicket, and a trickle down to the rope. Then, a cut shot over extra cover. The six was a result of a top-edge, over third man.


Over 2 || Score 8/1 (McCullum 5; Raina 1)


Jasprit Bumrah shared the new ball with Vinay Kumar. A wide to start his spell, then tow dot balls.


Brendon McCullum opened his scoring with a four, through mid-off, as Bumrah missed the target attempting a yorker.


A brief interruption in the play as McCullum's needed some inspection.


Another wide followed. Then a dot ball, which was followed by a mistimed pull shot for a single. A single to end the eight-run over.


Over 1 || Score 0/1 (McCullum 0; Raina 0)


Brilliant start from Vinay Kumar. A dot ball to Aaron Finch, who returned as the opener for Gujarat Lions. Then LBW. Hitting bang on the off stump.


WICKET: Aaron Finch lbw b Vinay Kumar 0 (2b)


Skipper Suresh Raina at three, and a wicket-maiden from the Karnataka Ranji captain. It was Vinay's 100th IPL wicket. Earlier today, R Ashwin also reached the same landmark.


In the last three overs, Mumbai Indians scored only 19 runs and lost three wickets, including Kieron Pollard's.


That may well prove decisive in this crunch tie, with 200+ runs predicted each innings.


But young Nitish Rana's knock was special.


MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS


Over 20 || Score 172/8 (V Kumar 1)


Third good over for Gujarat Lions on the trot. Praveen Kumar returned for his final over, and took two wickets conceding six runs.


A dot ball to Harbhajan Singh to start the over, then the wicket. Caught at deep mid-wicket.


WICKET: Harbhajan Singh c Suresh Raina b Praveen Kumar 3 (5b)


Hardik Pandya hit the next ball for a straight four, then two singles with new man Vinay Kumar getting into the act.


The innings, however, ended with the wicket of Hardik Pandya, caught at long-on by Ravindra Jadeja.


WICKET: Hardik Pandya c Ravindra Jadeja b Vinay Kumar 7 (8b)


Praveen's figures: 4-0-24-2.


Over 19 || Score 166/6 (H Pandya 3; Harbhajan 3)


Dwayne Bravo produced a superb penultimate over. Six runs — four singles, a wide and a leg bye. His figures 4-0-22-2. Brilliant, considering he bowled when the stakes were high and batsmen were going hammer and tongs.


46 runs and two wickets in the last five overs, and it certainly belonged to the fielding side.


Over 18 || Score 160/6 (H Pandya 1; Harbhajan 0)


One brilliant over from Dhawal Kulkarni. Seven runs and the big wicket of Kieron Pollard.


The over started with a single to Hardik Pandya, then a six as Pollard finally opened up. A top-edge over long-on.


Two dot balls, the wicket, caught at long-on by Dwayne Smith.


WICKET: Kieron Pollard c Dwayne Smith b Dhawal Kulkarni 9 (11b)


Harbhajan Singh is the new man. Thus Kulkarni completed his spell, for figures of 4-0-41-2.


Over 17 || Score 153/5 (Pollard 3; H Pandya 0)


Dwayne Bravo returned for his third over. A leg bye as Kieron Pollard tried to flick, but missed the ball.


A wide, down the leg, then a yorker missed by Nitish Rana. It was followed by a well-timed sweep shot for a four which beat the fielder at mid-wicket boundary.


A single then, Bravo-Pollard sparing returned.


Another leg-bye, then the wicket of Rana. A regulation catch by Dhawal Kulkarni at deep square leg. Change of pace did the trick for Bravo.


WICKET: Nitish Rana c Dhawal Kulkarni b Dwayne Bravo 70 (36b)


Hardik Pandya is the new man. Eight runs and a wicket from the over.


Over 16 || Score 145/4 (Rana 65; Pollard 3)


Dhawal Kulkarni returned for his third over, and Nitish Rana continued hitting.


A dot ball to Kieron Pollard to start the over, then a single. Rana took a double off miscued, lofted shot over point.


Then a six, his fourth of the day, over mid-wicket. Two more singles and 11 runs from the over.


In the last five overs, Mumbai have scored 58 runs, losing a wicket.


TIME-OUT


Over 15 || Score 134/4 (Rana 56; Pollard 1)


Shadab Jakati, the left arm spinner, has been dealt rather severely by young Nitish Rana. 14 runs.


Two singles to start the over, then Rana hit the first of three fours through mid-wicket. A dot ball, then back-to-back fours.


With the second four, Rana reached his maiden IPL fifty, off 28 balls.


Over 14 || Score 120/4 (Rana 43; Pollard 0)


Dwayne Bravo returned and broke the partnership which was taking the game from Gujarat Lions.


A single to Jos Buttler to start the over, then a four as Nitish Rana picked the slower delivery on outside off, and played a cover drive of supreme confidence.


A single, followed by a dot ball. Then the wicket. Blinder of a catch. Brilliant reflex action from Bravo to complete the catch on follow through.


WICKET: Jos Buttler c & b Dwayne Bravo 33 (31b)


Kieron Pollard is the new man. Six runs and a wicket from the over.


Over 13 || Score 114/3 (Rana 38; Buttler 32)


Shadab Jakati returned for his second over. Five singles then a six from the blade of Nitish Rana, over long-on. He's dealing in sixes.


11 runs from the over.


Over 12 || Score 103/3 (Rana 30; Buttler 29)


Dwayne Smith on for his fourth and final over. A not ball four, of height, which was punched through cover by Nitish Rana.


Then a six, over mid-wicket.


Four singles, then a wide. A dot to end the 16-run over. Smith's figures: 4-0-37-2.


The over also marked 50-run stand between Rana and Jos Buttler.


Over 11 || Score 87/3 (Rana 18; Buttler 27)


Bowling change, and first glimpse of Nitish Rana's brute force today.


A single to start Ravindra Jadeja's first over as Rana played towards fine leg. A double followed with Jos Buttler playing towards mid-wicket. A single, then Rana got into his favourite position to smack a big six over long-one. On his knees, Rana picked the ball from off stump and hit.


A single than a four the to end the 15-run over.


Over 10 || Score 72/3 (Rana 10; Buttler 20)


Dwayne 'Champion' Bravo on for the Lions at Kanpur. A single to Nitish Rana to start his spell. It was followed by a double as more proactive of the two batsmen, Jos Buttler played pass mid-wicket.


A single more, then a dot ball. A slower full toss, but Rana failed to time his shot, and it saved the batsman, as the ball didn't reach Brendon McCullum at deep square leg.


A dot and five runs from the over.


Over 9 || Score 67/3 (Rana 8; Buttler 17)


Dwayne Smith continued with his third over, on the trot. A four to Jos Buttler to start the over. Short and wide, and Buttler dispatched to point.


Two singles, and a dot ball. A double followed as Buttler played the fifth ball towards extra cover. A dot to end the over.


And TIME-OUT.


Over 8 || Score 59/3 (Rana 7; Buttler 10)


Second bowling change for Gujarat Lions. Spinner on with Shadab Jakati.


Good start from the 35-year-old from Goa. Five runs — three singles and a double.


33 runs and three wickets in the last five over.


Over 7 || Score 54/3 (Rana 6; Buttler 6)


Dwayne Smith continued with his second over. The West Indian still managed to incite the ball to do the talking even though this pitch was ruled a batting top.


Good over for the hosts. Five runs — four singles and a wide.


Those three wickets Mumbai lost today was reflective of their poor start this season. The defending champions have lost 25 wickets in the power-play, and most for any team in 2016.


Over 6 || Score 49/3 (Rana 4; Buttler 4)


Praveen Kumar continued with his third over. Five dot balls to Jos Buttler, and strayed the last ball. Punished with a four, through fine leg boundary.


Over 5 || Score 45/3 (Rana 4; Buttler 0)


Dwayne Smith, who rocked Kolkata Knight Riders in their last match, got two wickets in his first over.


First, he removed Martin Guptill, caught at mid-on by Dwayne Bravo.


WICKET: Martin Guptill c Dwayne Bravo b Dwayne Smith 7 (9b)


Just arrived Krunal Pandya hit a four, then a dot ball. Then the wicket. Caught at square leg, by Aaron Finch.


WICKET: Krunal Pandya c Aaron Finch b Dwayne Smith 4 (3b)


Jos Buttler is the new man.


Over 4 || Score 37/1 (Guptill 3; Rana 4)


Dhawal Kulkarni also on with his second over. Brilliant start. Two singles off the first two balls, then a dot.


But the next ball was dispatched by Rohit Sharma, straight over the bowler's head. Then the big wicket.


Rohit, playing a pull shot off a short of good length ball, holed out at deep square leg. Good catch by Shadab Jakati.


WICKET: Rohit Sharma c Shadab Jakati b Dhawal Kulkarni 30 (17b)


Nitish Rana, promoted to three, started with a four.


Over 3 || Score 25/0 (R Sharma 23; Guptill 2)


Praveen Kumar continued with his second over. A single to Martin Guptill, then a dot ball to Rohit Sharma. Another dot, and very good start.


Rohit then picked the ball from the 'fifth' stump and played through mid-on for four. Good pull shot.


A single, then back-footed Guptill played a cover drive, and once again that sublime stroke was stopped by his Kiwi compatriot Brendon McCullum inside the ring.


Six runs from the over.


Over 2 || Score 19/0 (R Sharma 18; Guptill 1)


Dhawal Kulkarni shared the new ball with Praveen Kumar.


Two dot balls to Martin Guptill, the the New Zealander played an expansive cover drive, which was stopped by a brilliant Brendon McCullum at extra cover. A single, then...


...third four for Rohit Sharma, through backward point area. A close call followed, for LBW. Lucky Rohit survived. Umpire Nandan reckoned there was a nick. But replays suggested otherwise.


It was followed by the first six of the match. Rohit picked the length early, and lofted over long-off boundary.


11 runs from the over.


Over 1 || Score 8/0 (R Sharma 8; Guptill 0)


Two slips and few more close in fielders for Mumbai Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. And Praveen Kumar started the proceedings.


A dot ball, then a brilliant cover drive from Rohit for four runs. Good response from Praveen, beating Rohit with an off-cutter.


Three more dot balls, than a flick of supreme class from Rohit to end the over with another four.


Match officials:


Umpires: Anil Chaudhary and Nandan
Third Umpire: Anil Dandekar
Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama
Reserve Umpire: Rohan Pandit


Playing XIs:


Gujarat Lions: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (capt.), Dinesh Karthik (w), Aaron Finch, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Eklavya Dwivedi, Praveen Kumar, Shadab Jakati, Dhawal Kulkarni


Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (capt.), Martin Guptill, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Jos Buttler (w), Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya, Harbhajan Singh, Vinay Kumar, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah


TOSS: Gujarat Lions have won the toss and have opted to field.


Meanwhile, in the fight to not finish last at Visakhapatnam, MS Dhoni reminded everyone once again that he is still the best finisher.


Needing 23 runs to win the match Dhoni hit two sixes and two fours to give Rising Pune Supergiants a four-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab.


SQUADS:


Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (capt.), Corey Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah, Jos Buttler, Unmukt Chand, Marchant de Lange, Shreyas Gopal, Martin Guptill, Harbhajan Singh, Kishore Kamath, Siddhesh Lad, Mitchell McClenaghan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Parthiv Patel, Kieron Pollard, Deepak Punia, Nitish Rana, Ambati Rayudu, Jitesh Sharma, Nathu Singh, Tim Southee, Jagadeesha Suchith, Jerome Taylor, Vinay Kumar, Akshay Wakhare.


Gujarat Lions: Suresh Raina (capt.), Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Dale Steyn, James Faulkner, Ishan Kishan, Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shivil Kaushik, Dwayne Bravo, Sarabjit Ladda, Amit Mishra, Akashdeep Nath, Paras Dogra, Eklavya Dwivedi, Shadab Jakati, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaydev Shah, Umang Sharma, Pravin Tambe, Andrew Tye.


PREVIEW:


First of the three remaining Indian Premier League (IPL) round-robin matches pits debutants Gujarat Lions against defending champions Mumbai Indians.


Both the teams are eyeing play-offs spots and today's match at Kanpur will witness a top-notch battle between two sides with expandable match-winners.


As things stand now, the Lions are second with 16 points, same as leaders Sunrisers Hyderabad, but down on net run rate. Mumbai are fifth with 14 points, and also with a negative net run rate.


A win for the Suresh Raina-led side will see them qualify as one of the two top teams, as only Hyderabad can beat the new team to the top.


But a lose will put the Lions as one of the five teams with 16 points. Here the fact that they have a negative net run-rate means that it will not be an easy for the Lions to finish as one of the top-four teams.


For Mumbai, it's even more complicated. Even if they win today, the Rohit Sharma-led side will wait for other results, from the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore matches tomorrow.


Both GL and MI have won their last matches, and will enter today's match with confidence, knowing well enough that a negative outcome will hamper or even end their respective campaigns.


In such a situation, both camps would wish for their star players to come good.


Dwayne Smith, who rocked Knight Riders with the ball in their last game would once again hold key to the Lions' fortunes. He can bowl, and bat.


Mumbai will rely heavily on their skipper, even though the classic batsman has failed in previous matches. If gets going, then it will be an easy night for the visiting team.


Yes, both the teams have more than enough match-winners, and the likes of Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, etc are all champion players.


Welcome to our live coverage of the match 52 of 2016 Indian Premier League between Gujarat Lions and Mumbai Indians being played at Green Park, Kanpur.