IPL 2014: Mumbai Indians defeat Kings X1 Punjab to end 5-match losing streak

Rohit Sharma

Mumbai, May 3 (IANS): Defending champions Mumbai Indians’ five-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL) finally ended on Saturday with a five-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab at the Wankhede Stadium here.

Mumbai’s win also snapped Kings XI Punjab’s five-match winning run and dislodged them from the top position that has now been taken by Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai Indians overcame a dodgy start, and fine batting performances by Chidhambaram Gautam (33), skipper Rohit Sharma (39) and Corey Anderson (35) helped them get to 170 for five with five balls to spare in reply to Kings XI Punjab’s 168/5.

Kings XI pacer Sandeep Sharma struck twice in consecutive overs to get rid of opening batsman Ben Dunk (5) and Ambati Rayudu (8) that left Mumbai Indians at a precarious 23/2.

But it was the 47-run stand between Gautam and Rohit that brought the chase back on track. Neither Gautam not Rohit looked in a hurry, and they took their time to build the innings and also made sure that the boundaries kept flowing.

After Gautam’s dismissal in the 10th over, Corey Anderson struck a quick-fire 35 off 25 balls, hitting three sixes and two fours, to take Mumbai Indians to sniffing distance of a win.

Kieron Pollard (28 not out from 12 balls) and Aditya Tare (16 not out from six balls) then took the Mumbai Indians home safely with some powerful hitting.

Earlier in the day, crucial knocks from Wriddhiman Saha (59 not out) and Glenn Maxwell (45) helped Kings XI reach a competitive score of 168/9. Saha struck four fours and three sixes in his 47-ball knock while Maxwell again struck a whirlwind knock that was studded with five fours and two sixes.

Mumbai Indians pacer Lasith Malinga was superb in the death overs giving away 25 runs for one wicket from his four overs, while offie Harbhajan Singh got two for 34 from his four overs.