IPL 2017 | Mumbai Indians thrash Kings XI Punjab in a run feast at the Holkar

IPL 2017 | Mumbai Indians thrash Kings XI Punjab in a run feast at the Holkar

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BCCI

Mumbai Indians made a mockery of the target of 199 against the Kings XI Punjab, on a batsman-friendly wicket at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, winning by 8 wickets. Hashim Amla's maiden T20 century went in vain as the visitors were able to secure the victory with an incredible 27 balls to spare.

Brief Scores: Kings XI Punjab 198/4 (Hashim Amla 104*, Glenn Maxwell 40; Mitchell McClenaghan 2/46, Krunal Pandya 1/29) lost to Mumbai Indians 199/2 (Jos Buttler 77, Nitish Rana 62*; Marcus Stoinis 1/28, Mohit Sharma 1/29) by 8 wickets.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first backing the Mumbai Indiansā€™ ability to chase with the same squad as in the last game. Kings XI Punjab, on the other hand, made four changes with Manan Vohra, missing out due to illness, Eoin Morgan, KC Cariappa, and David Miller being replaced by Shaun Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Gurkeerat Singh, and Swapnil Singh.Ā 

Mumbai put the brakes on after Punjabā€™s brisk start

Shaun Marsh, who was picked to open the innings with Hashim Amla, started off in full flow timing the ball beautifully and finding the boundaries with ease. The introduction of Lasith Malinga saw the Aussie lose his momentum and in the very next over he fell to Mitchell McClenaghan just before the end of the powerplay as the Kings XI Punjab reached a score of 46/1 after 6 overs. Punjab, yet again, experimented with the No. 3 spot as Wriddhiman Saha was given another bite at the position. The wicket had, however, slowed down the home side and over the next four overs, the Kings could only manage 23 runs to reach the halfway stage of their innings with a score of just 69/1.

The Amla and Maxwell show

Sensing the lack of runs, Saha decided to take the attack to the visitors but ended up missing a Krunal Pandya ball that went on to disturb the furniture. Amla, who has been getting off to starts this season, did not let his side down, as he brought up his half-century in the 12th over. After another over, Punjab took the game away from Mumbai scoring 61 off just three overs with McClenaghan being the main culprit conceding 28 runs in an over. Even though Punjab lost Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession, Amla continued the onslaught bringing up his maiden T20 hundred by hitting Malinga for two consecutive sixes as the Kings set Mumbai a target of 199 runs.

Mumbai start in fifth gear

Mumbai started their chase with Parthiv Patel and Jos Buttler keeping in touch with with the required run rate with a series of boundaries and sixes. After four overs, Mumbai were going strong at 51/0. Soon, the duo had managed to bring the required rated down to 8.73 with 17 runs off Mohit Sharma in the fifth over and after the powerplay Mumbai were cruising at 82/1, despite losing Parthiv Patel in the 6th over. Nitish Rana came in and continued his fine form in the IPL as Mumbai looked to finish the game off in a hurry with Jos Buttler bringing up his maiden IPL half-century in the ninth over. And at the halfway stage, Mumbai needed just 76 runs more to seal the victory.Ā 

Buttler and Rana continue the carnage as Mumbai cruise to win

After bringing up their 50 partnership off just 29 balls, it was only a matter of time as Mumbai cruised to victory. Needing just 65 off nine overs, Mumbai didnā€™t take their foot off the gas as Nitish Rana hit Swapnil Singh for back to back sixes to bring the required rate under a run a ball. In the next over, Buttler did the same to Sandeep Sharma to take the game away from the ā€œhomeā€ side. And even though the Englishman was dismissed in the 14th over for 77, the game was well and truly over. Nitish Rana ensured the match got the finish it deserved as a big six secured the win for Mumbai by 8 wickets and an astonishing 27 balls still in the kitty.Ā 

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