Kishan-Surya pair gave victory to Mumbai

Mohali (Uttam Hindu News): Openers Ishan Kishan (41 balls, 75 runs) and Suryakumar Yadav (31 balls, 66 runs) struck half-centuries to help Mumbai Indians beat Punjab Kings by seven wickets in a fireworks-filled Indian Premier League encounter on Wednesday. Beaten by

Punjab set a mammoth target of 215 runs in front of Mumbai thanks to a blistering half-century from Liam Livingston (82 not out) and his century partnership with Jitesh Sharma (49 not out). Half-centuries from Suryakumar and Kishan, however, took Mumbai to the target in 18.5 overs.

Kishan had been under fire for a long time due to his poor form, but he stitched a 116-run century partnership with Suryakumar after Mumbai lost two crucial wickets for 54 runs. Both these batsmen were dismissed before giving Mumbai a win, after which Tim David (19 not out) and Tilak Verma (26 not out) took the visiting team to the target.

Mumbai have moved up to the sixth spot in the points table with five wins from nine matches, while Punjab are seventh after five wins from 10 matches.

Mumbai won the toss and elected to bowl and Arshad Khan returned young opener Prabhsimran Singh (seven balls, nine runs) to the pavilion in the second over. Shikhar Dhawan and Matthew Short started weaving partnership for the second wicket and Punjab added 50 runs in the powerplay.

There was a 49-run partnership for the second wicket between Dhawan and Short. Dhawan was dismissed for 30 runs off 20 balls including five fours, although Matthew Short struggled to score quick runs. Piyush Chawla, who took Dhawan’s wicket, also made Short (26 balls, 27 runs) walk in the 12th over.

Mumbai were in a good position, restricting Punjab to 99 runs till the 12th over of the innings, but Livingston and Jitesh’s fiery century partnership ruined Mumbai’s efforts. Joffra Archer gave Jitesh a chance to open his hand by throwing a no ball on the first ball of the 13th over. Jitesh hit a free hit for a four which started his fiery innings.

At the other end, Livingston hit Archer for three consecutive sixes in the 19th over after completing his half-century off 32 balls. Livingston shared a 119-run partnership with Jitesh, playing an innings of 82 off 42 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Jitesh, however, could not complete his half-century despite a commendable effort and remained unbeaten on 49 off 27 balls including five fours and two sixes.

Akash Madhwal gave a calm end to Punjab’s stormy innings, conceding just nine runs in the last over. Akash gave a total of 37 runs in his three overs and did not get any wicket. Chawla took two wickets for 29 runs in four overs, while Arshad achieved success by giving 48 runs in four overs. Archer was Mumbai’s most expensive bowler giving away 56 runs in four overs.

Chasing the mammoth target, Mumbai did not get off to a good start as captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the very first over. Cameron Green played an innings of 23 runs off 18 balls with the help of four fours but Nathan Ellis sent him to the pavilion as soon as the powerplay ended.

Mumbai were struggling to score quick runs. Before the Punjab spinners dominated Mumbai, Kishan and Suryakumar began to retaliate. Suryakumar added 10 runs in the ninth over by hitting Rahul Chahar for a four, while Kishan reached his half-century in 29 balls after hitting Harpreet Brar for a four and a six in the 10th over. Suryakumar also scored fifty in 23 balls by scoring 16 runs against Sam Karan in the 13th over.

Suryakumar scored 66 runs in 31 balls with eight fours and two sixes in his fiery innings. By the end of his innings, Mumbai needed only 45 runs in 29 balls. Kishan also returned to the pavilion after scoring 75 off 41 balls with seven fours and four sixes, although a 116-run partnership off 55 balls between him and Suryakumar completely swung the match in Mumbai’s favour.

Mumbai needed 37 runs off 23 balls after the new batsmen came to the crease. David and Tilak took just 16 balls to score this 37 runs. David scored 19 runs off 10 balls while Tilak remained unbeaten on 26 runs off 10 balls.