Picture : BCCI
Powered by a brilliant cameo 59 from stand-in skipper Sam Curran and Arshdeep Singh who shattered stumps at will in a tense final over as Punjab Kings snatched a thrilling 13-run victory over Mumbai Indians in a high-scoring the Tata IPL 2023 match in Mumbai.
Sensational Sam Curran’s 29-ball 55 led Punjab Kings to a massive 214/8. MI did fight well after conceding 117 runs in the last seven overs, but their effort with the bat was not enough to avert a defeat in a game wherein more than 400 runs scored at the Wankhede Stadium.
Sam Curran justified his top billing with a splendid 29-ball-55 as Punjab Kings lifted themselves from a precarious position to post a mammoth 214/8.
A 92-run stand for the eighth wicket with Harpreet Bhatia (41 off 28 balls) changed the course of the game with 131 runs coming in the back-10.
Arjun Tendulkar (1/48 in 3 overs), who had a couple of impressive games first up, had a good opening spell but went for 31 in his third over as 69 runs were yielded between overs 16-18. Jofra Archer and Cameron Green went for 13 and 25 respectively in the 17th and 18th over.
Mumbai Indians took the game into the final over due to fine counter-attacking knocks from Cameron Green (67 off 43 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (57 off 26 balls) as the duo added 75 off only 36 balls to revive the hosts.
Arshdeep struck a decisive blow in the 18th over to dismiss an on-song Suryakumar with Mumbai needing another 33 from 15 balls, and bowled an impressive final over while accounting for Tilak Varma (3) and Nehal Wadhera (0) to return with splendid figures of 4/29 in four overs.
Mumbai were also rocked early by Arshdeep, who had his India teammate Ishan Kishan (1) caught by Matthew Short for his 50th IPL wicket.
Rohit and Green fuelled MI’s charge in the remainder of the powerplay, taking them to 54/1 after six overs taking their association to a 76-run stand for the second wicket, coming off 50 balls.
Rohit looked in imperious form but fell to Liam Livingstone in the 10th over for 44 from 27 balls, studded with four fours and three sixes.
Mumbai will be disappointed with the loss at their fortress. Punjab will will be happy with the way young English all- rounder Sam Curran is leading the side in the absence of regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan despite having no captaincy experience .
PBKS Impact Player: Nathan Ellis replaces Prabhsimran Singh
MI Impact Player: Nehal Wadhera replaces Jason Behrendorff
Match: IPL 2023, 31st Match
Venue: Mumbai | Date: April 22, 2023
