Mumbai Indians Snatch Thrilling Victory from Punjab Kings in IPL 2024
In a nail-biting encounter at Mullanpur on Thursday, Mumbai Indians (MI) narrowly escaped a late onslaught from Punjab Kings (PBKS) to secure a thrilling 9-run victory in the IPL 2024 match.
PBKS, chasing a challenging target of 193, found themselves in a precarious position at 77/6, with their top order back in the pavilion. However, Ashutosh Sharma’s remarkable innings of 61 runs off just 28 balls ignited their hopes.
Sharma displayed audacious strokeplay, executing helicopter pulls and dispatching Jasprit Bumrah for a six with a sweeping shot. He punished Akash Madhwal’s bowling, leaving MI stunned for a moment.
However, Sharma’s dismissal in the deep when PBKS were just 25 runs away from victory halted their momentum. The lower-order batsmen failed to carry them across the finish line.
Bumrah once again emerged as the standout performer for MI, claiming crucial wickets with the new ball and later breaking a threatening partnership by dismissing Shashank Singh. Despite the onslaught from the opposition batsmen, Bumrah remained economical and showcased his brilliance yet again.
Another MI pacer, Gerald Coetzee, made a significant contribution with figures of 3/32, shifting the momentum in MI’s favor by dismissing Sharma at a crucial juncture.
MI captain Rohit Sharma described the match as a see-saw battle, noting that both teams had opportunities to clinch victory until the final over.
“What a game! We got a good total on the board, we started really well (with the ball), we thought we had it.. cricket is a funny game and they batted really well, it was like a seesaw and couldn’t decide who would win the game,” said Rohit.
“I saw the ball land and knew it would spin, so I got my body behind, I didn’t care how I stopped it as long as I stopped it (16.3). It is incredible, it is completely different to whatever I have experienced and even the fan experience, just incredible,” he added.
