David Miller’s Kings XI crashed to their fifth defeat in six matches, going down by 25 runs to the Mumbai Indians.
His Kings team just could not get going, chasing 190 to win, and it did not help when he lost his two openers for 32 runs before the powerplay was over.
Shaun Marsh (45 from 34) and Glenn Maxwell (56 from 39), needed to up the pace, but for 10 overs in a partnership of 89, they fell further behind. By the time came for the big push, after 15 overs, the Kings were 121-3 and needing nearly 14 an over.
Miller ended 30 not out, but it was a target too far as his tail collapsed under him. He lost three batsmen for 10 runs.
Winning the toss for the first time in this campaign, Miller decided to go with the flow and send the opposition in to bat, the preferred plan nowadays.
For a while, it looked to be a good choice, for Mumbai were held to 39-1, with Rohit Sharma falling in the first over. It could have been two down, but Mitchell Johnson had overstepped and Parthiv Patel, who had holed out straight to the man at deep square leg when on 15, and the score on 30-1, was called back.
Johnson was brought in for Kyle Abbott, who is struggling after taking just one wicket in 10 overs at an economy of 10.4, and there was still no place for Farhaan Behardien.
Parthiv and Ambati Rayudu (65) then added 137 for the second wicket and Parthiv went on to 81, smashing 10 fours and two sixes off 58 balls.
With Jos Buttler adding 24 off 13 balls, it was a job well done at 189-6. It was more than enough. The Kings remain at the foot of the log
Photo: BCCI
