Mumbai Indians virtually crashed out of the playoffs race of the 2016 Indian Premier League after failing to defend 172/8 against the Gujarat Lions at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur on Saturday. The Lions chased down Mumbai's score with six wickets in hand and booked a place in the playoffs.

As a result of this victory, Sunrisers Hyderabad also confirmed a playoff spot, irrespective of what happens in their final league game against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.

A flamboyant 36-ball 70 from the 22-year old Nitesh Rana took the Mumbai Indians to a respectable 172/8 in their 20 overs. Rana, however, did not enjoy much support with his team-mates with only Jos Buttler (33 off 31) and Rohit Sharma (30 off 17) getting to double figures. Gujarat Lions were disciplined at the death with Dwayne Bravo being the standout, picking up two wickets for 22 runs in his four overs.

Gujarat Lions lost Aaron Finch off the second ball of the innings, but Suresh Raina and Brendon McCullum put together a rollicking partnership, scoring 96 in 54 balls. Both were dismissed – Raina for a 36-ball 58 and McCullum for a 27-ball 48, but they had done just about enough. Dwayne Smith played a cameo at the end (an unbeaten 37 off 23 balls) to confirm a playoff berth for the Gujarat Lions.