Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was delighted after a thrilling nine-run win against Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Thursday. MI posted a par score of 192 runs on the board after Sam Curran won the toss and decided to bowl first.
After Ishan Kishan was dismissed cheaply for eight runs, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav added 81 runs for the second wicket. SKY scored his 23rd IPL fifty as he batted at the top of his game. Yadav scored 78 runs off 53 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes.
Rohit scored 36 runs and was dismissed after he was deprived of strike. Yadav then added 49 runs with Tilak Varma, who scored an unbeaten knock of 34 runs.
Meanwhile, PBKS found themselves in trouble at 111-7 but Ashutosh Sharma got his team out of the woods with a whirlwind knock of 61 runs off just 28 balls. The right-hander scored his maiden IPL fifty off just 23 balls to keep his team in the contest and scored two fours and seven sixes as he scored his runs at a strike rate of 217.86.
Hardik Pandya said in the post-match presentation, “Very good game of cricket. Everyone’s nerves got tested. We did speak about before the game that the character will be checked in this game. Naturally, you think you’re ahead in the game. But we know IPL has a tendency to produce these games.”
Pandya also hailed Ashutosh Sharma for his fine knock under pressure.
He added, “Unbelievable – coming in and playing like that (Ashutosh’s knock). Almost every ball hitting the middle. Happy for him and chuffed for his future. We did speak in the timeout that it doesn’t matter how good we look. We’ll keep scrapping in this game. We were quite soft in certain overs. Nevertheless, a win is a win.”
Mumbai Indians will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Monday.
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