Mumbai openers Sharma and Rickelton hand Lucknow sixth consecutive defeat in IPL

India IPL Cricket

Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

India IPL Cricket

Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

India IPL Cricket

Mumbai Indians' Ryan Rickelton hits a six during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

India IPL Cricket

Mumbai Indians' Ryan Rickelton, left, celebrates his fifty runs with Rohit Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

India IPL Cricket

Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

India IPL Cricket

Mumbai Indians' Corbin Bosch celebrates with teammates the wicket of Lucknow Super Giants' Mitchell Marsh during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MUMBAI, India (AP) — Mumbai Indians rode blistering 80s from fit-again Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton to hand Lucknow Super Giants their sixth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League on Monday. After missing the last five games due to a hamstring injury, Sharma smashed 84 off 44 balls while Rickelton hit eight sixes and six fours in his explosive 83 off 32 balls as Mumbai cruised to 229-4 in 18.4 overs for a six-wicket win. Lucknow had posted its season-high total of 228-5 with Nicholas Pooran (63) finally scoring his first half-century of the campaign. But Mumbai came back strong in the final three overs and allowed Lucknow just one boundary. Sharma's and Rickelton’s explosive opening stand of 143 off 65 balls set the tone of Mumbai’s third win of the season before both missed out on centuries. Rickelton was caught in the covers off fast bowler Mohsin Khan and Sharma fell to impact player Manimaran Siddharth in the 14th over to a mistimed swipe over fine leg. Suryakumar Yadav, who led Mumbai in the absence of an unwell Hardik Pandya, continued to struggle for runs and fell for 12. Naman Dhir and Will Jacks carried Mumbai home. Mumbai stayed in ninth place while Lucknow remained 10th and last. \\\_ AP cricket: