Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan scored fine half centuries as the Punjab Kings defeated the Mumbai Indians by 12 runs at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday.
After being asked to bat first by MI skipper Rohit Sharma, openers Agarwal and Dhawan got PBKS off to a flying start. The duo added 97 runs for the opening wicket before the former was dismissed by Murugan Ashwin for a well made 52.
Left hander Dhawan got a reprieve on 44, when the diving Ishan Kishan failed to hold on to a tough chance.
Jaydev Unadkat then got into the act by dismissing Jonny Bairstow, bowled by a slower one for 12.
Liam Livingstone (2) was cleaned up a by magnificent yorker by Jasprit Bumrah. The southpaw was finally dismissed by Basil Thampi, caught at long on by Kieron Pollard for a sparkling 50 ball-70. His knock comprised off 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Late cameos from Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan helped Punjab reach 198/5 in their 20 overs.
In response, Mumbai lost both Rohit Sharma (28) and Ishan Kishan (3) early with the score on 32.
Dewald Brevis and Tilak Verma featured in a 84 run stand for the third wicket. Brevis who was dropped on 45 at deep third man off Odean Smith, fell to the very next delivery, pulling a short ball to Arshdeep Singh at deep backward square leg for a 25 ball-49.
Mumbai suffered a body blow as Tilak Varma (36) and Kieron Pollard (10) were run out following a horrible mix-up with Suryakumar Yadav.
Suryakumar however kept MI in the hunt by smashing Vaibhav Arora for consecutive sixes in the 17th over.
With 33 requiring off 18 balls, Arshdeep Singh bowled a brilliant 18th over for Punjab, by conceding just five.
Kagiso Rabada dented Mumbai’s hopes of their first win by dismissing Yadav (43), caught at long on by Odean Smith.
Smith then claimed three wickets in the final over as the Mumbai Indians were restricted to 186/9, thereby losing the contest by 12 runs.
Mayank Agarwal was adjudged the Player of the Match for his impressive knock.
Punjab Kings 198 for 5 (Dhawan 70, Agarwal 52, Jitesh 30*, Thampi 2-47) beat Mumbai Indians 186 for 9 (Brevis 49, Suryakumar 43, Varma 43, Smith 4-30, Rabada 2-29) by 12 runs