Kings XI Punjab defeated the Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in the IPL to move off the bottom of the table while denting Mumbai's chances of finishing in a play-off place.
Mumbai batted first but struggled early on after Kings XI's bowlers restricted their hosts to 61 for five before late hitting from Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya got their team up to 124. Marcus Stoinis was the pick of the bowlers for Kings XI by taking four wickets for 15. In reply, Kings XI were never really troubled thanks to an 116 run partnership between Murali Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha saw their team to victory with three overs to spare.
Mumbai won the toss and chose to bat first
At the toss, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma won it and chose to bat first in a game that was crucial for Mumbai in terms of finishing in the play-off positions. On the other hand, Kings XI were hoping to move off the bottom of the table after struggling so far in the competition.
Mumbai lost five early wickets
Mumbai got off to a terrible start limping along to 21 for two from their first six overs which was the lowest total that a team have scored in that period all tournament. The wickets to fall were Unmukt Chand for a duck off the bowling of Mohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu for a duck off the bowling of Sandeep Sharma.
It got worse for Mumbai when two more wickets fell in quick succession. Sharma was the first to fall for 15 from 23 balls in the ninth over of the bowling of Axar Patel. Nitish Rana who had looked like he had got the pace of pitch was next to fall for 25 of 28 balls of the bowling of Stoinis to leave Mumbai in trouble at 47 for four.
Jos Buttler then came to the crease trying to look for quick runs for his side along with Pollard but the England wicketkeeper held out in the deep for nine of the bowling of Stoinis to leave the score on 61 for five.
Pandya and Pollard hit quickfire runs to get their side to 124
Pandya then joined Pollard at the crease with the pair upping the run rate to get the score past 100 before both fell in the same over of the bowling of the outstanding Stoinis who took four wickets for 15 runs from his four overs.
Pandya made a quick fire 19 from 12 balls while Pollard made 27 from 20 balls to leave the score on 103-7 in the 17th over. Mumbai lost two more wickets before the end but some late hitting from Harbhajan Singh, who made a quickfire 14 not out, got his side up to 124 for nine from their 20 overs.
In reply, despite losing the early wicket of Hashim Amla for a duck off the bowling of Tim Southee, Kings XI got a decent score of 30 for one after their first six overs of power play on what was a very tricky pitch to bat on.
Saha and Vijay see their side home with three overs to spare
The wicket of Amla brought Saha to the crease to join Murali Vijay and the pair both passed fifty in a brilliant partnership of 116 before Saha was out bowled off the bowling of Mitchell McClenaghan for 56 from 40 balls to leave the score on 117-2 in the 16th over.
Glenn Maxwell fell next ball for a duck off the bowling of McClenaghan but it didn't matter as a calm innings from Vijay who finished 54 not out saw the Kings XI win with 18 balls remaining.