NEW DELHI: Ashutosh Sharma nearly single-handedly secured a win for Punjab Kings, turning the game around unexpectedly. However, Mumbai Indians managed to withstand his remarkable performance and clinch a nine-run victory in a thrilling match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday.
Punjab Kings faced the threat of a significant net run rate impact when they were at 14/4 and later at 77/6 in pursuit of 193. After Shashank's 25-ball 41, Ashutosh kept the momentum going with a dazzling 25-ball 61.
Once Ashutosh was dismissed, Mumbai Indians regained control.
Following Ashutosh's wicket, Punjab Kings lost Harpreet Brar, but the final batter Kagiso Rabada instilled hope by hitting a six off Hardik Pandya over deep backward square leg in the 19th over, reducing the equation to 12 runs from the last 6 balls.
Pandya's tension was clearly visible on his face and he handed the ball to young Akash Madhwal for the final over.
1/10:Mumbai Indians clinch nail-biter to beat Punjab Kings
PTI
2/10:Mumbai Indians beat Punjab Kings
<p>Mumbai Indians managed to fend off a valiant effort by Punjab Kings' Ashutosh Sharma to win by nine runs in a fiercely fought IPL thriller on Thursday. </p>PTI
3/10:Suryakumar Yadav
<p>Mumbai Indians lost only two wickets in the first 12 overs, Suryakumar Yadav went on to smash 78 runs off 53 balls to help the team post a solid 192-7. </p>PTI
4/10:Japsrit Bumrah
<p>Punjab Kings started on a disastrous note, with Gerald Coetzee and Japsrit Bumrah striking early to leave them reeling at 14-3 at the end of the second over. </p>AFP
5/10:Ashutosh Sharma
<p>Ashutosh Sharma rebuilt the innings with 61 runs off 28 balls, aided ably by Shashank Singh (41) and Harpreet Brar (21), but it was ultimately not enough. </p>PTI
6/10:Ishan Kishan
<p>Mumbai openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma put up a brisk start before Kishan fell in the third over leaving the team at 18-1. </p>PTI
7/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>Rohit Sharma, who scored a 25-ball 36, built another partnership with Suryakumar Yadav before falling in the 12th over. </p>AFP
8/10:SKY
<p>Suryakumar Yadav went on to smash 78 runs off 53 balls before being dismissed in the 17th over. </p>PTI
9/10:Tilak Varma
<p>Tilak Varma hit a 18-ball 34, and cameos from Hardik Pandya (10) and Tim David (14), Mumbai wrapped up at 192-7. </p>AP
10/10:Gerald Coetzee
<p>The game seemed in the bag in the early portion of the second innings, partly due to sharp bowling by Coetzee and Bumrah, who took three wickets each. </p>APMadhwal needed confidence going into the crucial last over, and former captain Rohit Sharma quickly approached the young pacer to offer advice.
In a video shared on social media, Madhwal is seen paying attention to Rohit's guidance rather than Pandya.
Madhwal bowled the first ball, and Rabada was run out for 8 runs, leading to Punjab Kings being bowled out for 183 in 19.1 overs.
WATCH:
This was the fifth defeat, the third in a row, for Punjab Kings in 7 matches. They are eight in the points tally.
Punjab Kings will next face Gujarat Titans on Sunday.
