Guptill screamer helps keep Kings XI alive
Martin Guptill took one of the all-time great IPL catches before Kings XI Punjab fought off a potential record chase to keep their play-off hopes alive with a stunning seven-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
Kings XI needed to win at the iconic venue to stay in the play-off hunt and Wriddhiman Saha's magnificent 93 not out, after being promoted to opener, set the tone.
Guptill (36 off 18 balls) and captain Glenn Maxwell (47 off 21) provided explosive assistance to the wicketkeeper as Kings XI thundered their way to a massive 230-3.
Lendl Simmons looked like mounting a response in kind by smashing five fours and four sixes for 59 runs before he was caught on the long-on boundary one-handed by a flying Guptill to wrest momentum back Kings XI's way.
.@Martyguptill you absolute BEAUTY! Take a bow! #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #MIvKXIP #KXIP pic.twitter.com/OSdfiCsTWn
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 11, 2017
And though Kieron Pollard (50 not out off 24) and Hardik Pandya (30 off 12) threatened something truly great late on, the visitors clung on to move within a point of fourth-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad with one round of group games to go.
The West Indian almost outshone Saha, but the India international's effort was ultimately a match-winner.
Summary of today's nail biter at the Wankhede. What did you make of the boys' performance? #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #MIvKXIP pic.twitter.com/nINanIYWkv
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 11, 2017
Saha and Guptill brought up the Kings XI fifty in just 22 balls and the glovesman kept the pedal to the floor once Maxwell joined him at the crease.
The Australian took Harbhajan Singh for three sixes in a brutal opening over from the veteran spinner, but was bowled just shy of a half-century, attempting to flick Jasprit Bumrah behind square.
Shaun Marsh (25) and Axar Patel (19 not out) gave Saha able partnership as Kings XI racked up the highest total of the season, but Mumbai returned in kind through Simmons' masterful innings.
Simmons and Parthiv Patel (38) put on 99 for the opening wicket, but a crucially sticky union between Rohit Sharma (five off seven) and Nitish Rana (12 off 12) that added just 13 runs in 15 deliveries ultimately proved costly.
Pollard did his best to yank the contest back as he and Hardik smashed nine maximums between them, while Karn Sharma's six-ball 19 helped take things to the last over.
There was controversy as Pollard appeared to deliberately run short as Maxwell closed in on the ball in the deep, getting back on strike at the cost of a run before belting the next delivery over midwicket for six runs.
But Mohit Sharma (2-57) kept his head to limit the powerful batsman's angles and keep Kings XI alive.