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| Shaun Marsh in action, on Tuesday |
Mohali: Munaf Patel’s five-wicket haul went in vain as table toppers Mumbai Indians produced a spineless batting display to slump to a humiliating 76-run defeat at the hands of Kings XI Punjab here Tuesday.
Chasing a 164-run target, Mumbai Indians lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for just 87 runs in 12.5 overs.
Left-arm spinner Bharghav Bhatt was the pick of the Kings XI bowlers, scalping four wickets for 22 runs, while Praveen Kumar picked up two wickets for 19.
Mumbai Indians’ lacklustre batting performance can be gauged from the fact that big-hitting Kieron Pollard was their top-scorer with 17 runs followed by Aiden Blizzard (15).
Sent into bat, Kings XI were coasting at 129 for two at one stage but lost as many as six wickets in a span of just 39 runs in the last five overs to see their innings go haywire from a comfortable position.
Munaf was the wrecker-in-chief for Mumbai, picking up five wickets for just 21 runs, while tournament’s highest wicket-taker Lasith Malinga gave him the perfect support from the other end with figures of two for 24.
Shaun Marsh top-scored for Kings XI with a 34-ball 43, while Dinesh Karthik (31 off 24), captain Adam Gilchrist (28) and Paul Valthaty (14) all got starts before fading out.
The win not only took Kings XI up to the ninth position in the standings with eight points from 10 games, but also kept alive their hopes of making it to the playoffs.
Despite the defeat, Mumbai Indians continue to lead the table with 16 points from 11 matches.
Mumbai Indians’ chase was far from rosy as they lost their top six batsmen inside the first 10 overs with the scoreboard reading just 63.
Blizzard, however, got Mumbai off to a blazing start spanking Praveen for three consecutive fours to pile up 12 runs of the first over before the pacer picked up two vital wickets to send the visitors onto the back foot.
Captain Sachin Tendulkar (6) was Praveen’s first casualty as he steered one to Marsh at backward point in the third over.
(PTI)
