IPL 2012: Kings XI Punjab Stun Mumbai Indians

IPL 2012: Kings XI Punjab Stun Mumbai Indians

Shaun Marsh scored 68 to set up victory for the Kings XI

©REUTERS / Action Images

Kings XI Punjab 164-4 (Marsh 68no) beat
Mumbai Indians 163-6 (Franklin 79) by 6 wickets
Indian Premier League 2012, Mumbai
Scorecard

Kings XI Punjab pulled out a surprise six wicket win over Mumbai Indians, breaking their string of losses at Mumbai. This win opens up the Indian Premier League once again as the top eight teams are separated by only two points.

Batting first, the Mumbai Indians posted 163 for six thanks to James Franklin's 79 but a timely half-century from Shaun Marsh, who scored 68, helped Kings XI reach their target with three balls to spare.

Buoyed by the return of Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai Indians elected to bat after winning the toss. James Franklin and Tendulkar made a cautious start before cutting loose. They added 51 runs for the first wicket when the master batsman was run out.

In fact this disheveled their innings as Dinesh Karthik was run out later in the innings too. Apart from Franklin they were the only batsmen to get into double figures and get set for a bigger score, only to disappoint.

Tendulkar made a run-a-ball 23 with three fours while Karthik was out for 35 off only 20 balls, including five fours.

Franklin was the top scorer with 79 and held the innings together for as long as he could, while wickets fell at the other end. Parvinder Awana and Piyush Chawla caused havoc in the middleorder, while some great fielding by Kings XI made sure that the score was kept in check.

Rohit Sharma was out for two, Keiron Pollard for seven and Harbhajan Singh for only four runs. Awana was the best bowler, finishing with 2 for 23 in his four overs.

Franklin faced 51 balls for his knock and struck six fours as also four sixes. He was out in the 19th over and without his contribution, Mumbai would not have reached 163 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Nitin Saini and Mandeep Singh gave Kings XI a flying start. They put on 48 for the first wicket, with Saini first out in the 7th over for 30 runs off 25 balls. He hit five fours, while Singh made 24 off 21 balls with three fours inclusive.

It was enough to give a launch pad to Shaun Marsh who guided the innings coming in at number three. His second half-century of the season took them closer to victory while David Hussey played the support role with 21 off 19 balls.

Marsh made 68 off only 40 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes, guiding Kings XI to a win that keeps them well in contention.

© Cricket World 2012