Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab, IPL, Durban

Yusuf Abdulla celebrates the dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan, Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians, IPL, 20th match, Durban, April 29, 2009
Yusuf Abdullah helped Punjab seal the tightest win of the tournament. © AFP

Abdulla clinches Punjab a last-over thriller

The Bulletin by Aye Aye Maung

April 29, 2009

Kings XI Punjab 119 for 8 (Sangakkara 45*, Malinga 2-12) beat Mumbai Indians 116 for 7 (Duminy 59, Abdulla 2-19) by three runs

Talk about pulling one from out of the hat. Defending a small total Kings XI Punjab's three-pronged pace attack bowled canny spells to rock Mumbai Indians' chase, and despite a composed half-century from JP Duminy, Punjab hung on to complete a nerve-wracking three-run victory. Mumbai hardly set a wrong foot forward from the time they lost the toss, striking early through spin and keeping their hands on the jugular through Lasith Malinga's late strikes, but failed to chase 120. Kumar Sangakkara had kept the innings alive with an important unbeaten 45 with scant support and it proved decisive in the end. Having struck early in the piece the task of bowling the last over, and defend 12 runs, came to Yusuf Abdulla. And what an over it turned out to be.


No comments:

Post a Comment