Robin Peterson goes for a big one, in Mohali, on Wednesday. (PTI)

Mohali: Ambati Rayudu (34) and Robin Peterson (16) creamed leg-spinner Piyush Chawla for 27 runs in the penultimate over to snatch a stunning four-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat against Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League match, here on Wednesday.

Peterson borrowed shots from his namesake, Kevin Pietersen, as he played a cameo punctuated with switch hits on his IPL debut to snatch victory for the Mumbai Indians.

Peterson scored 15 runs off four balls in the penultimate over and Rayudu smacked two sixes in the 19th over. Mumbai were in a precarious position after 18 overs, as they needed 32 from the last 12 balls but some incredible hitting by Peterson and Rayudu helped the visitors chase the 169-run target with one ball to spare.

The platform for the victory, though was set by Rohit Sharma, who hit a blistering 50 off just 30 balls. Rohit had provided the Mumbai-chase much needed impetus with his inspiring knock, containing three sixes and as many as fours but his dismissal off Parvinder Awana tilted the game in the favour of the hosts.

Mumbai needed 36 off 17 balls when Rohit was caught at backward point by Azhar Mahmood. Awana removed rival skippper Harbhajan Singh two balls later, loading the dice heavily in favour of his side. However, Rayudu and Peterson took it on themselves and stole an unlikely victory with tremendous hitting.

Riding on the heroics of David Hussey’s 40-ball 68 and his undefeated 89-run partnership with David Miller (34 off just 17 balls) for the third wicket had helped Punjab put up a competitive 168 for three after electing to bat.

Adam Gilchrist was out with an injury but played the role of a mentor to perfection when he lavished praise on Piyush Chawla after the match.

Instead of blaming Chawla, Gilchrist decided to praise Robin Peterson whose innovative switch hits got MI back in the game. “I think we should celebrate positive cricket played by Peterson,” Gilchrist, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, told reporters after the match.“A reverse sweep, switch-hit, slog to the boundary... amazing,” he said .

Gilchrist said that Chawla was disappointed and he had a chat with him. “He has a good record in the tournament and I told him he needs to look ahead,” he said.

Peterson said the victory would work a kind of catalyst for them in the matches up ahead. “Well, you back each other when you are under pressure. It could be a catalyst, but there is still a long way to go,” he said.

Mumbai began their chase on a cautious note, with James Franklin and Sachin Tendulkar giving them a sedate start with the first 50 runs coming in 44 balls. Franklin (22 of 22 balls) fell to former Pakistani pacer Azhar Mahmood.

Mumbai suffered a big jolt when Mahmood returned to bowl his next over. He had Tendulkar, who made 34 in 29 balls with four boundaries, caught behind when the Indian edges one to keeper while trying to make room to hit a slightly widish ball in the 10th over.

Tendulkar made 34 in 29 balls with four boundaries. Mahmood contributed in the third wicket also when Dinesh Karthik (3) handed a catch to him off Chawla.