Kings XI Punjab dent Mumbai Indians' pride

Kings XI Punjab dent Mumbai Indians’ pride

Match Report: Match-41: Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, 9th April 2010.

Mohali, April 9: Kings XI Punjab dented Mumbai Indians’ pride, as the home side eked out a six-wicket victory in Match 41 of IPL-2010 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday night. Kings XI Punjab scored 158/4 as they chased down modest target of 155 runs for victory in 19.2 overs.

The Mumbai Indians, who were sitting pretty at the top of the table with 14 points from 10 matches, suffered their third defeat and second loss on the trot. Playing for pride, Kings XI Punjab, who are virtually out of the semi-final contention, recorded their third victory of the season and their first win in five matches on their home ground in the PCA at Mohali. Kings XI Punjab, however, remain at the bottom of the table with six points.

Mahela Jayawardene looked in fine touch. The former Sri Lanka captain scored an18-ball 31 (7x4). But sling bowler Lasith Malinga broke the opening pair by having Jayawardene caught smartly by a diving Saurabh Tiwary at mid on. West Indies opener Adrian Barath was out in the 11th over, falling lbw to off-spinner JP Duminy for 33 (27 balls; 4x4, 1x6). Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh (15) were involved in 38-run for the third wicket. But Yuvraj departed, snapped behind off Kieron Pollard, with 30 runs away from victory. But left-hander Sangakkara (42-ball 56; 6x4, 1x6) batted confidently and aggressively to take Kings XI Punjab to a consolation win. Irfan Pathan (15 not out) hit the winning boundary.

The Mumbai Indians bowlers could not make any impression as they were thrashed by the Kings XI Punjab batsmen. Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan both went wicketless. Lasith Malinga though captured two wickets.

Earlier, left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan (3/29) and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla (3/24) triggered a Mumbai Indians collapse as the table toppers could make only 154/9 in 20 overs. Pathan started the slide by bowling left-hander Shikhar Dhawan in the second over. Ambati Rayudu, who came at the fall of Dhawan’s wicket, took off in style as he struck seven boundaries. He scored a quick-fire 18-ball 33 before Chawla took first of his three wickets. Rayudu was done in by a quicker one to be bowled. Rayudu and skipper Sachin Tendulkar added 44 runs for the second wicket in 25 deliveries.

Left-hander Saurabh Tiwary did not last long. He was stumped off Chawla for 4. The leg spinner then got the prize wicket that of Tendulkar (25-ball 29), who was bowled while executing the sweep shot. Mumbai Indians were reduced to 70/4 in 9.4 overs. Mumbai Indians, thereafter, struggled. R Satish made a 17-ball 20 before edging Pathan to Sangakkara and Kieron Pollard (14-ball 18) was yorked by the same bowler. It was 134/6. Left-hander JP Duminy, who came in place of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, kept the Kings XI Punjab attack at bay. He was the last man out for 28-ball 35 as Mumbai Indians managed to cross the 150-run mark.

There was a marked improvement in Kings XI Punjab bowling. Pathan hit the right length while Chawla was too good on the day. Debutante Love Ablish also did a remarkable job while taking two wickets. Australian speedster Brett Lee was expensive and finished with 0/38 in four overs.

The bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab made five changes in the team. They brought in Adrian Barath, Reetinder Sodhi, Brett Lee, Love Ablish and Karan Goel in place of Ravi Bopara, Juan Theron, Bipul Sharma, Sreesanth, and Manvinvder Bisla. Mumbai Indians brought in Zaheer Khan in place of Abu Nechim.