IPL: Mumbai Pip Punjab In A Close Match

Robin Peterson and Ambati Rayudu pulled off a heist that could have even put George Clooney in the Oceans’ movie series to shame. The Mumbai Indians finally secured a win against Kings XI Punjab. Piyush Chawla who has been the architect of many a win against their rivals, got pasted for 27 runs in the penultimate over of the innings to hand over a much needed win for MI.

On a slow turning wicket, Kings XI did well to reach a score of 168, something which according to their captain was a big score on the wicket. David Hussey scored 68 off 40 runs to add to his growing reputation as he received steady support from David Miller. Their’s was an undefeated 89 run partnership off a mere 7 overs. Shaun Marsh for once struggled to get going while RP Singh was the pick of the bowlers conceding just 27 runs in his quota of four overs.

Mumbai started their reply cautiously, and though Franklin got out with the score on 52 off 8 overs, the chase was very much still on, especially with Tendulkar going well. However three wickets in quick succession meant MI never got the push in the middle overs they were hoping for. Rohit Sharma – their finisher was still there at the crease and was getting the runs from his end. The talented batsman scored a valuable 50 off 30 balls, but departed just as it seemed as if he would put his team across the line. Harbhajan who promoted himself up the order, followed Sharma to the pavilion immediately, and with 32 needed off the last 2 overs, the task seemed out of reach of the visitors. However, in came Robin Peterson, and out came the switch hit. In three remarkable strokes he changed the fortunes of the match, with a switch hit over short fine leg off his first ball, followed by an another switch hit to what would have been the cover boundary for a left hander.And then slogged the third ball over square leg for a six. Rayudu joined in the fun as he hit the last two balls of the over for two more sixes. Just 5 runs were needed off the last over, and Azhar Mehmood bowled intelligently, but the Man of the Man – Rayudu hit a boundary of the second last ball to seal a famous win for his side.