KINGS XI PUNJAB PIP MUMBAI INDIANS TO STAY IN IPL HUNT

Wriddhiman Saha’s unbeaten 55-ball 93 powered Kings XI Punjab to 230/3 against Mumbai Indians in an IPL – Indian Premier League 2017 encounter. In reply, MI could score 223/6 in 20 overs.

MUMBAI (TIP): In a game that swung from one side to the other, Kings XI Punjab came up trumps to record a thrilling seven run win over Mumbai Indians on May 11 (Thursday) and keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2017 IPL playoffs alive.

Mumbai Indians needed 17 off the final over bowled by Mohit Sharma, and 10 off the last four deliveries. The chances of the former champions reaching the target were good with Kieron Pollard, who had hit a six off the second ball, at the crease. However, Mohit Sharma once again showed his skill at bowling in the death overs as he kept his cool to keep the Trinidadian all-rounder at bay.

Kings XI Punjab scored a 2017 IPL record 230/3 and restricted Mumbai Indians to 223 for six.

STAYING IN TOUCH

Kings XI Punjab moved to 14 points after the victory at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, just one point behind defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad, who play their last match against Gujarat Lions in Kanpur. Kings XI Punjab’s last match is on Sunday against Rising Pune Supergiant.

Pollard (50no) would have been disappointed with his effort as at one point, with the help of Hardik Pandya (30) and Karn Sharma (19), had put them on the verge of victory.

Chasing 231 set by Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians got off to a flying start but lost their way after the powerplay overs and then saw their top-four batsman return to the pavilion with the score at 121 in the 13th over.

Lendl Simmons (59) and Parthiv Patel (38) gave Mumbai Indians a rollicking start as they started their chase of the season’s highest total. Patel was the first to go but the turning point of the match came in the 10th over when Martin Guptill took a brilliant one handed catch to dismiss Simmons, who was trying to hit another over the boundary, this time off Glenn Maxwell.

Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma (5) for the fifth time this season fell to a leg-spinner when he holed out at long on off the bowling of Rahul Tewatia while off-colour Nitish Rana (12) followed him soon after.

SAHA’S HEROICS

Wriddhiman Saha mixed caution with aggression to score an unbeaten 53-ball 93 and help Kings XI Punjab post the highest score of 2017 IPL.

Kings XI Punjab scored 230 to overtake the 214 scored by Delhi Daredevils while chasing against Gujarat Lions earlier in the month. The wicketkeeper-batman was the glue the kept the Kings XI Punjab innings together. He shared 50-plus partnerships with Martin Guptill (36), Glenn Maxwell (47) and Shaun Marsh (25) to help Kings XI Punjab post a mammoth total. He stayed at the wicket till the last ball, hitting 11 boundaries and three sixes. While others around him went hammer and tongs, he was given the role of anchoring the innings. While he didn’t boast the same range of shots like his partners, he played to his strengths, playing with a straight bat and taking the occasional risk to go over the top.

Source: HT