Arshdeep's Stunning Display Helps PBKS Down MI in a High-Scoring Thriller
Arshdeep Singh claimed 4/29 vs MI (AP Photo)
Punjab Kings: 214/8 in 20 overs (Sam Curran 55 (29), Harpreet Singh 41 (28); Piyush Chawla 2/15, Cam Green 2/41) beat Mumbai Indians: 201/6 in 20 overs (Cam Green 67 (43), Suryakumar Yadav 57 (26); Arshdeep Singh 4/29, Nathan Ellis) 1/44 by 13 runs.
Brilliant death bowling from Arshdeep Singh (4/29 in 4) and Nathan Ellis ensured that Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green's heroics went in vain as the Punjab Kings held their own to defend 214 against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday evening.
Chasing 215, MI got off to a poor start as they lost Ishan Kishan to Arshdeep in the 2nd over of their innings.
Rohit (44 off 27) and Cameron Green (67 off 43) ensured they cashed in on the powerplay as Mumbai raced away to 54 after 6.
However, the duo slowed down post powerplay, and while Rohit tried to make up for it by smashing Rahul Chahar for a four and a six in the 9th over, he eventually fell to Livingstone (caught & bowled) in the next over.
With Green struggling to hit big shots against spin, MI needed Suryakumar Yadav to step-up, and the 360 degree batter did exactly that as he swept, paddled, drove, cut his way to an imperious 57 off just 26 deliveries to bring his side back in the game.
The duo added 75 runs between 9.3-15.3 to bring the equation down to 66 off the last 5 overs.
Green took on Ellis by smashing him for a four and a six at the start of the 17th over, but the latter had the last laugh as he outfoxed his fellow Aussie with a slower short delivery.
Surya and Tim David continued with the charge, before the former eventually holed out to Arshdeep. With 31 needed of 12, David smoked Ellis for a six off the 2nd delivery of the 19th over, but once again, the latter came back brilliantly to ensure he conceded just 15, leaving Arshdeep 16 to defend.
And, then, Arshdeep followed it up with brilliant exhibition of yorkers to uproot David and Wadhera to take his side to a thrilling win.
Skipper Sam led from the front in PBKS stunning onslaught
Earlier, Punjab Kings rode on brilliant powerhitting from the likes of skipper Sam Curran (55 off 29), Harpreet Singh (41 off 28) and Jitesh Sharma (25 off 7) at the backend to power their way to 214/8 in 20 overs.
For the better part of the first 10 overs, it didn't look line PBKS would get anywhere near 200, let alone breach it.
That's because, they had managed just 83 runs and had lost 4 wickets, including the prized scalp of Liam Livingstone (10 off 12), with veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla being their nemesis-in-chief.
Harpreet and Sam went at barely run-a-ball between overs 10-15, with the former managing just 16 off his first 20 deliveries.
With their score reading 118/4 at the end of 15, it looked as if PBKS would fall short of a par score. Until, they decided to press the accelerator to take Arjun Tendulkar, Cam Green and the returning Jofra Archer to the cleaners.
The duo laid into young Arjun in the 16th over, taking the left-arm seamer for 31 runs. Then, it was the turn of Cam Green, who even though dismissed Harpreet, but ended up conceding 25 runs, with Jitesh greeting him with back-to-back sixes the moment he came to the crease.
Curran completed a well-deserved half-century before getting dismissed by Archer, but Jitesh and Harpreet Brar ensured that Punjab didn't miss their skipper much as the duo smashed 17 in the final over to power their team to 214/8.
 "Yash Mittal")