Mumbai Indians rode on some big-hitting by Ambati Rayudu and Robin Peterson to beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets.
It was heartbreak for Kings XI Punjab as Ambati Rayudu and Robin Peterson staged a remarkable comeback hitting 27 runs in the penultimate over to snatch a stunning four-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat for Mumbai Indians against Kings XI Punjab, here today.
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Chasing 169 to win, Mumbai looked down and out. They needed an improbable 32 from the last 12 balls but some incredible hitting by Peterson and Rayudu helped the visitors chase down the target with one ball to spare.
Rayudu (34) and Peterseon (16) shared an unbeaten 36-run partnership that came off just 13 balls.u00a0
The game swung both ways throughout the day before the penultimate over in the Mumbai Indians chase saw leg-spinner Piyush Chawla concede 27 runs and the match.u00a0Peterson smacked a hapless Chawla for two fours and a six in first three balls of the 19th over and then Rayudu hoicked the leg-spinner for two sixes off the last two balls to change the complexion of the game.
The platform for the victory, though was set by Rohit Sharma, who hit a blistering 50 off just 30 balls. Rohit had provided the Mumbai-chase much needed impetus with his inspiring knock, containing three sixes and as many as fours but his dismissal off Parvinder Awana tilted the game in the favour of the hosts.
Mumbai needed 36 off 17 balls when Rohit was caught at backward point by Azhar Mahmood. Awana removed rival skippper Harbhajan Singh two balls later, loading the dice heavily in favour of his side.
However, Rayudu and Peterson took it on themselves and stole an unlikely victory with tremendous hitting.u00a0
Rohit Sharma scored a 30-ball 50 to set up the win for Mumbai Indians. Pic/AFP
Earlier, stand-in skipper David Hussey stroked his way to a 40-ball unbeaten 68 as Kings XI Punjab scored a competitive 168 for three.
Electing to bat, KXIP slumped to 46 for two in the eighth over before Hussey steadied the ship.
Hussey found an able ally in David Miller who played a cameo of 17-ball 34 not out as KXIP compensated for a slow start with some big hitting towards the end at the PCA Stadium here.
Hussey hit four fours and an equal number of sixes in his knock while Miller smashed three sixes and a four. The duo, who came together in the 13th over, put on 89 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand from 7.1 overs.
For Mumbai, James Franklin, R P Singh and Clint McKay grabbed a wicket each.
McKay, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel and Kieron Pollard came in for some stick from KXIP batsmen.
Munaf, who had bowled a disciplined line in his first two overs, found himself at the receiving end in the later part of KXIP innings as Hussey and Miller were in full flow. Miller hit two sixes in the 18th over bowled by Munaf. He repeated it by hitting two sixes of the final two deliveries of the innings bowled by the same bowler.
David Hussey scored a 40-ball unbeaten 68 to lift the Kings to 168/3. Pic/AFP
Earlier, Kings XI openers Nitin Saini (17) and Mandeep Singh (22) gave their side to a good start. Mandeep, in particular was looking in good knick, scoring at a brisk pace.
However, both got out while trying to accelerate the scoring rate. R P Singh gave KXIP the first blow when he had Mandeep, who made 22 of 16 balls including four hits to the fence, caught behind stumps when the batsman tried to give a charge to the bowler.u00a0
After Mandeep's exit in the sixth over at 35 for one, Saini (17) too, did not last long falling to Australian pacer McKay with Munaf in the deep barely holding on to the catch. Mandeep also hit three boundaries off McKay in the third over.
Australian Shaun Marsh, who played a brilliant innings in the last match against Mumbai, and Hussey steadied KXIP innings after the two openers were back in the pavilion. Marsh, however, did not look in his prime touch with Mumbai bowlers bothering him on a few occasions. In contrast to his batting in the previous match, Marsh consumed 26 balls for his 17 runs that included one four. Trying to break the shackles, the left-hander handed out an easy catch to Harbhajan Singh giving Franklin his first scalp.
MI had brought in Robin Petersen and McKay in their playing eleven, leaving out Pragyan Ojha. Punjab came into the match having beaten Mumbai by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Punjab have so far won three out of their seven games while Mumbai have three wins from six outings.u00a0
Brief Scores:
Kings XI Punjab: 168/3 (David Hussey 68, RP Singh 1/27)
Mumbai Indians: 171/6 (Rohit Sharma 50, A Rayudu 34, P Awana 3/39). MI won by 4 wkts
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