TATA IPL 2024: MI Defeats PBKS by 9 Runs Despite Sharma's 61 at Mullanpur Thriller
Ashutosh Sharma's remarkable performance nearly propelled Punjab Kings to an unexpected victory, but Mumbai Indians held on to secure a thrilling nine-run win at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. With Punjab Kings struggling at 14/4 and later at 77/6 in pursuit of 193, there was a genuine concern about their net run rate being severely impacted. However, Shashank's quickfire 41 off 25 balls provided a glimmer of hope, and Ashutosh Sharma then continued the onslaught with a breathtaking 61 off just 25 balls, ensuring a tense finish to the match.
However, once Ashutosh Sharma was dismissed, Punjab Kings found themselves bowled out for 183 in 19.1 overs, succumbing to their fourth defeat of the tournament in the final over. Gerald Coetzee and Jasprit Bumrah starred for Mumbai Indians, each claiming three wickets as they managed to secure a victory despite a formidable challenge from Ashutosh. In pursuit of 193, Punjab Kings encountered early troubles. Prabhsimran Singh was caught behind off Coetzee while attempting a pull shot down the leg side to Ishan Kishan. Bumrah then delivered his trademark yorker to dismantle Rilee Rossouw's stumps before trapping Sam Curran leg-before-wicket, with the decision upheld upon review.
Liam Livingstone miscued a pull, and on seeing that, Coetzee made a slide to his left to complete a low catch. Impact Player Harpreet Bhatia couldn’t keep the punch down and gave a caught-and-bowled dismissal to Shreyas Gopal. Jitesh Sharma missed a full toss from Akash Madhwal and was trapped lbw. The first signs of counter-attack were shown by Shashank in punching fours off Coetzee and Madhwal, before swinging Gopal for six. He took a liking to Gopal’s bowling by cleanly striking him for sixes down the ground and over long-on before being deceived by a slower ball from Bumrah.
From the other end, Ashutosh began by swinging Madhwal for six before slashing and pulling Romario Shepherd for four and six, respectively. When Hardik Pandya strayed down the leg, Ashutosh was quick to whip it for six. But the standout moment of his knock was Ashutosh staying low and sweeping a Bumrah yorker for a six over fine leg, followed by pulling Shepherd for another maximum. He would swing a Coetzee full toss for another four and with Harpreet Brar taking back-to-back fours off him, PBKS felt they were in the hunt to do the impossible.
Ashutosh raced to his fifty in just 23 balls, smashing Madhwal for a six over mid-off and then clearing the keeper for another maximum off a free hit. Harpreet joined the onslaught, hitting Madhwal for a six down the ground, as Punjab Kings now required 28 runs from four overs, with the crowd chanting Ashutosh's name. However, Bumrah tightened the screws, conceding only three runs in the 17th over. Ashutosh's aggressive innings ended when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off Coetzee in the 18th over, after a blistering 61 off 28 balls. Harpreet fell in the next over, caught at deep backward square leg off Hardik. Despite Rabada's six in the final over, his run-out by Mohammad Nabi secured the win for Mumbai Indians and dashed Punjab Kings' hopes.
