03 May,2011 06:46 AM IST | | Harit N Joshi
Sri Lankan pacer's double strike sets up Mumbai's 23-run victory over Kings XI
Sachin Tendulkar, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard were easily the stars of Mumbai Indians' 23-run victory over Kings XI Punjab in the fourth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday.
Mumbai Indians' Lasith Malinga celebrates after clean bowling Punjab's
Bipul Sharma at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday.
But it was Lasith Malinga who made the difference early on. His toe-crushing yorkers choked Punjab in their chase.
The Sri Lankan bowled a tight line to Paul Valthaty (33 off 38 balls), curtailing his run scoring.
The slingshot bowler also managed to keep Shaun Marsh quiet for a while before returning to dismiss him for 61. He also took the wicket of Bipul Sharma (1) to finish with figures of 4-0-19-2.
Mumbai Indians put up 159 for five, thanks to half-centuries from skipper Tendulkar (51) and Rayudu (51). Man of the Match Pollard hit a quickfire 20 while Rohit Sharma (18) offered valuable support in the end.
Mumbai Indians' skipper Sachin Tendulkar cuts one en route to his
45-ball 51 that included three fours and a six during yesterday's match
against Kings XI Punjab at Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai won by 23 runs.
Pics/Suresh KK
"Malinga made a big difference in the match," former Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput told MiD DAY.
"Malinga's bowling itself is enough for Mumbai Indians to win the match. His accuracy is a big boon to the team.
"He is a big match-winner. His first spell was very crucial because Punjab's top order has the ability to chase any target."
It was important to put the brakes on Punjab's scoring in the beginning. And MI bowlers did the same.
Harbhajan Singh managed to get skipper Adam Gilchrist (0) in the first over of Punjab's innings. From the other end Malinga bowled a miserly first over, giving away just two runs.
After the end of four overs, KXIP were struggling at 15-1.
Munaf Patel, Abu Nechim Ahmed, T Suman and Pollard continued the good work and managed to restrict Gilchrist's side to under 6.5 runs an over in 10 overs.
Needing 47 runs from 24 balls and five wickets in hand with Marsh still at the crease, Punjab had a glimmer of hope.
But Malinga again came back to haunt them. The wickets of Sharma and Marsh in the 17th and 19th overs, respectively, sealed the fate of Punjab. They ended with 136-8. Pollard hailed Malinga's bowling. "He is a top-class bowler. He is always an asset to any team. His contribution is always very vital in the team," said Pollard.
