Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu stroked half centuries in Mumbai Indians’ 23-run victory over Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League match at the Wankhede Stadium here Monday.
After Mumbai were sent in, Tendulkar (51) and Rayudu (51) mustered 95 runs for the second wicket to boost Mumbai Indians’ total to 159/5. The hosts then unfolded a disciplined bowling attack and sharp fielding to restrict Kings XI Punjab to 136/8.
Mumbai Indians now top the table with six wins from their eight matches while Kings XI Punjab are at the eight place with with three wins from seven matches.
For Punjab, Shaun Marsh stood tall amist the ruins with a gritty 61 off 47 balls.
Punjab were off to a terrible start, losing skipper Adam Gilchrist for a duck in the very first over. The former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman was trapped leg before by Harbhajan Singh (2-25), who opened the attack.
Marsh and Paul Valthaty (33 off 38) then set down to build the innings and put on a crucial 72-run stand for the second wicket before Andrew Symonds struck. In-form Valthay was caught by Kieron Pollard while attempting to send Symonds for a straighter boundary.
His wicket proved to be the turning point and triggered a middle-order collapse.
Marsh waged a lone battle before Lasith Malinga (2-19), who is in red-hot form, got him caught at mid-wicket by Tendulkar.
Munaf Patel was also impressive with his figures of 2-18.
It was not a perfect start for Mumbai as well as the hosts lost opener Davy Jacobs early in the third over before Tendulkar and Rayudu resurrected their innings.
Tendulkar hit a six and three boundaries in his 45-ball innings while Rayudu stroked a six and eight fours in his aggressive 37-ball knock.
Kieron Pollard (20) and Rohit Sharma (18) provided the late thrust after the hosts lost Sachin and Rayudu in quick succession.
Pollard hit two towering sixes and a four in his 11-ball knock whereas Sharma slammed three boundaries in his 11-ball innings.
For Punjab, pacer Ryan Harris took 2-33 and leg-spinner Piysh Chawla 2-37