Chawla chokes Mumbai
9 Apr 2010
Disciplined bowling from the Kings XI Punjab restricted the Mumbai Indians and set the platform for a comfortable six-wicket win.
A three-wicket haul from Piyush Chawla dislodged the top order, paving the way for an Irfan Pathan triple and restricting the table-toppers with a disciplined bowling display. The Kings XI bowlers, who hit the stumps five times and bowled only one wide, were the decisive factor of the unprecedented home win.
Ambati Rayudu bludgeoned a fast 33 off the seamers, and Punjab captain Kumar Sangakkara learning quickly that spin would be the measure of the day. Chawla came into his own on the slow track, worming through Rayudu with a topspinner.
Between the tight liens of Chawla and Ramesh Powar the runs dried up, dipping to 7.25 until Duminy got set. After grafting to 8 off 14 deliveries he let loose, but didn’t get sufficient support to finish the innings in a flourish. Rajagopal Sathish and Keiron Pollard added 26 and 18 respectively, but proved little more than a brief reprieve from the disappointment of the visitor’s capitulation.
Mahela Jayawardene propelled Punjab to a good start, belting 31 from 18 before holing out in the deep to Lasith Malinga, but the innings was held together by a captain’s knock from Sangakkara, who fell midway through the 19th over after working his way to 56.
Ultimately, the Indian’s total was 20 runs too low, and the home side walked to the total without the flair of recent matches. The result does nothing to change the look of the IPL table; the Kings XI Punjab still lie firmly at the bottom, whilst the Mumbai Indians retain the top spot.
Mumbai 154-9 (20 overs)
JP Duminy 35, Ambati Rayudu 33, Piyush Chawla 3-24
Punjab 158-4 (19.2 overs)
Kumar Sangakkare 56, Adrian Barath 33, Lasith Malinga 2-36
Punjab win by six wickets
Click here for a full scorecard.
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