STRUGGLERS REJOICE
Mumbai’s convincing win over Punjab
Despite losing their captain Rohit Sharma on a duck in an important match against Punjab, Mumbai put an all round show to outsmart the opponents by 25 runs. Parthiv Patel and Amabati Rayadu’s batting was well supported by Mumbai’s bowling attack to give them a much needed victory at the match played here on Monday.
At one stage Punjab was very much in the hunt with sensible batting by Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. But as Southee in his last spell removed Marsh, Bumrah bowled a superb 18th over to remove Maxwell and Naik conceding just 2 runs. His efforts were well supported by McClenaghan in 19th over as he also took 2 wickets giving away 4 runs.
Earlier, Parthiv Patel topscored with an enterprising 58-ball 81 to power Mumbai Indians to a competitive 189 for six against Kings XI Punjab.
Invited to bat, Mumbai Indians rode on Patel's knock, his best in IPL, and Ambati Rayudu's 65 off 37 balls to record their highest score against Kings XI Punjab in the cash-rich league.
Jos Buttler blazed his way to 23 off 13 balls with the help of three fours and a six. Patel smashed 10 fours and two sixes, while Rayudu hit four boundaries and as many maximums.
The total could have been more had it not been for Mohit Sharma's brilliant last over in which he conceded just four runs. Mohit was the most successful bowler for KXIP with figures of 3/38, two of them coming in that final over.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians were dealt a body blow in the first over itself with nothing on the board, when medium pacer Sandeep Sharma had skipper Rohit Sharma caught behind by Nikhil Naik with his second delivery.
Patel and Rayudu ensured there was no further setback for the next 15 overs, as they put on 137 runs runs for the second wicket till Rayudu was dismissed by Axar Patel.
Rayudu was lucky to get a life when Axar dropped an absolute sitter at deep midwicket off the bowing of Pardeep Sahu. Rayudu was batting on 33 then.
During the rebuilding phase, the two batsmen mixed caution with aggression and helped their team to safety before opening up to play freely.
Even as Rayudu smashed Glenn Maxwell over long-on for a maximum to up the ante, Patel followed suit and flicked Sahu over long-on for a six in the 11th over at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium.
Rayudu then hit Axar for a straight six and a four through the cover region. Rayudu got to his half century in 31 balls, while Patel reached the landmark a little later after facing 41 balls.