Australia's Cameron Green hit his first-ever T20 century to lead the Mumbai Indians to a crushing eight-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad and keep their IPL playoff hopes alive on Sunday.
Green made an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls and put on a key stand of 128 with skipper Rohit Sharma (56) as Mumbai achieved their victory target of 201 with two overs to spare at the Wankhede Stadium, their home ground.
Nita Ambani (C) along with her son Akash Ambani (2R) and Rohit Sharma take a lap of honour at the end of the match. AFP
The result eliminated the Rajasthan Royals from the playoff race while Bangalore, led by Faf du Plessis, remain in contention.
Bangalore need a win to make the next round, but a loss would allow Mumbai to go through.
Table-toppers Gujarat and second-placed Chennai Super Kings will clash in the first qualifier next week. Lucknow, who became the third team to book their playoff berth, await their opponent in the eliminator.
The winner of Qualifier 1 will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on May 28 and the loser will play the winner of the eliminator.
Mumbai Indians' players take a lap of honour at the end of the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. AFP
Green, a big buy for Mumbai for $2.11 million in the auction, stood out on Sunday with eight fours and eight sixes.
After Rohit's departure, Green kept up the charge and put on an unbeaten partnership with Suryakumar Yadav, who hit 25, to register their eighth win in 14 group matches.
Medium-pace bowler Akash Madhwal set up victory with figures of 4-37 to check Hyderabad to 200-5, a total that looked to go bigger but for some disciplined bowling.
Openers Mayank Agarwal (83) and Vivrant Sharma (69) put on 140 runs to lay the foundations for the total, which proved insufficient.
The departure of Sharma and then Agarwal made Hyderabad slide with the rest of the batting falling apart. Hyderabad took the wooden spoon in the 10-team table.
Agence France-Presse