IPL: Ashutosh Sharma's belligerent 61 in vain as Mumbai Indians pip Punjab Kings by nine runs
Ashutosh Sharma gave Mumbai Indians a mighty scare with a sensational 61 before the five-time champions scraped through with a nine-run win over Punjab Kings in the IPL here on Thursday.
Ashutosh unleashed a flurry of sixes in his 28-ball knock which brought Punjab from the brink to near the finish line but his dismissal in the 18th over turned the game back in favour of Mumbai Indians.
Punjab, who were left tottering at 17/4 in their chase of 193, came back roaring through Ashutosh and Shashank Singh (41 off 25) before ending at 183 all-out in 19.1 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav (78) starred with the bat for Mumbai Indians to take them to 192 for seven.
It was Mumbai's third win in seven games while Punjab's slide continued with their fifth loss in seven matches.
Despite an early four-wicket burst from pacers Jasprit Bumrah (3/21) and Gerald Coetzee (3/32), MI once again paid a heavy price of being ordinary with the ball. Akash Madhwal gave away 46 for one wicket in his 3.1 overs.
Ashutosh produced a breathtaking knock, hammering seven sixes and two fours after Shashank's counterattack brought Punjab back on track following early wickets.
The right-handed Shashank smacked each of his three sixes off leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal (1/26).
Ashutosh was adroit with his strokes particularly on the leg-side.
Harpreet Brar proved he is no mug with the bat either, as the left-handed tailender unleashed lofted hits in his vital 20–ball 21 with two fours and a six. At the top of the order, Prabhsimran Singh's (0) poor run
