IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians steal close win against Punjab despite Ashutosh’s heroics
IPL 2024: Mumbai steal close win against Punjab despite Ashutosh’s heroics
Mumbai Indians managed a close win against Punjab Kings by nine runs in IPL 2024 despite Ashutosh Sharma’s whirlwind knock of 61 off 28. While Jasprit Bumrah was MI’s go-to-bowler alongside Gerald Coetzee, with both picking three wickets each, Suryakumar Yadav also returned to form, smashing 78 off 53 balls in the first innings.
The home side won the toss and elected to bowl first. Shikhar Dhawan-less PBKS removed Ishan Kishan early inside the Powerplay on eight. That, however, saw the dangerous pair of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav flourish and smashboundaries at will. The experienced duo added 81 for the second wicket before stand-in captain Sam Curran removed Rohit caught on 36.
By then, Suryakumar had struck another fifty this season and looked composed to convert it into a three-digit score.
Curran, however, got his wicket on 78.
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While Tilak Varma provided support with his quickfire unbeaten 34 off just 18 balls, Captain Hardik Pandya and Tim David played handy cameos but departed soon after.
Mumbai hit a fighting total of 192 for seven in the first innings.
Bumrah, Coetzee strike gold
Mumbai couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second innings, reducing Punjab to 14 for four inside the first six overs, with Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee returning with two wickets each.
Harpreet Singh Bhatia and keeper-batter Jitesh Sharma departed soontofurtherseePBKS reeling at 77 for six at one stage.
However, their two finds of this season – Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, again bailed the team out of trouble, with Shashank leading the charge after early jitters.He whacked three sixes and two fours in his 41-run stay at the crease, butit was Ashutosh’s innings thatcaught everyone’s attention.
With Punjab’s back against the wall, Ashutosh put in the fifth gear and kept hitting each MI bowler for a six, including paddle-sweeping Bumrah to deep fine leg.
His stay at the crease tensed the MI dugout and the captain as he slammed a brilliant 61 off just 28 balls, hitting seven sixes and two fours.
Coetzee, however, picked his wicket right at the end to shift the momentum towards the touring side.
Harpreet Brar and Kagiso Rabada hit a few sixesbutthat wasn’t enoughasMumbai managed to pick up ten wickets to win the game against PBKS.
