Press Trust of India
Mohali, May 3: Mumbai Indians (MI) kept their hopes of qualifying for the play-off alive as they convincingly beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 23 runs at the PCA Stadium here Sunday.
After scoring a healthy 172 for three in 20 overs, MI restricted an out-of-sorts KXIP for 149 for seven as it may well be curtains for last year’s finalists.
Senior pros Lasith Malinga (2/31) and Harbhajan Singh (1/27) led a disciplined bowling attack and were complemented well by Mitchell McClenaghan and Vinay Kumar. Once David Miller (43, 37b, 3×4, 1×6) was snapped by Rohit Sharma off Malinga in the 17th over, the match was as good as over for the KXIP. Murali Vijay (39) also tried his bit before being holed out by Unmukt Chand off Harbhajan in the deep.
Earlier, a 111-run opening stand between Parthiv Patel (59, 36b, 5×4, 3×6) and Lendl Simmons (71, 56b, 9×4, 1×6) ensured a competitive total for MI after Rohit Sharma opted to bat. Both the openers cut loose and hammered the KXIP bowlers at will. However, MI seemed to be 20 runs short as they managed only 76 runs in the back 10 after Parthiv and Simmons had added 96 in the first 10 overs.
Parthiv provided the initial impetus to the innings batting freely. Leg spinner Karanveer Singh gave KXIP their first breakthrough when he had Patel caught by Murali Vijay in the 13th over. Top-scorer Simmons fell in the last over when Axar Patel caught him in the deep off Anureet Singh’s bowling.
Brief scores
MI 172 for three (Lendl Simmons 71, Parthiv Patel 59) beat KXIP 149 for seven (David Miller 43; Lasith Malinga 2/31) by 23 runs.
