Suryakumar Yadav’s half-century kept the Mumbai Indians in contention for a playoff spot as they beat the Kings XI Punjab by six wickets.
With the knowledge that no team who batted first has won at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Rohit Sharma elected to bowl first.
Chris Gayle’s 50 off 40 balls, including six fours and two sixes, was key to setting a sturdy foundation for the Kings XI Punjab. The ‘Universe Boss’ smashed his third half-century of the campaign before losing his wicket.
Gayle helped his side put 88 runs on the board, while Lokesh Rahul (24 off 20 balls), Yuvraj Singh (14), Karun Nair (23 off 12 balls), Axar Patel (13) and Marcus Stoinis (29 off 15) added cameos to the hosts’ total.
The Mumbai Indians used seven bowlers to clamp KXIP’s run rate and managed to restrict them to 174-6 in 20 overs.
Yadav got stuck in for Mumbai Indians. He led from the front and reached his half-century in 34 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes.
His 57 off 42 balls could only take his side to the 80-run mark before he was MI’s second wicket to fall.
Cameos from Ishan Kishan (25 off 19 balls) and Hardik Pandya (23 off 13 balls) put the visitors in a competitive position but they lost their wickets at the 100-run and 120-run marks respectively.
It was up to MI’s skipper Rohit Sharma (24 off 15 balls) to lead his side to victory. He was joined by Krunal Pandya (31 off 12 balls) as the pair hit 56 off 21.
Sharma contributed two sixes and a four to put his side on course for a successful chase, but it was Pandya who sealed it with four fours and two sixes to claim two important points.
The Kings XI Punjab, with a game in hand, remain on 10 points in fourth position on the log.
Photo: Deepak Malik /SPORTZPICS for BCCI
