Punjab end IPL campaign with impressive win
Mahmood, Marsh score fifties as Kings defeat Mumbai by 50 runs.
Cricketer Azhar Mahmood. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Kings XI Punjab signed off in style as they ended their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign on a winning note with a 50-run win over Mumbai Indians yesterday.
Helped by blistering knocks by Azhar Mahmood (80) and Shaun Marsh (63), Punjab piled up a big total of 183 for four after being put in to bat.
In reply, Mumbai were bowled out for 133 in 19.1 overs. Mahmood, Sandeep Sharma and Piyush Chawla all bagged two wickets apiece.
The outcome of the match had no impact on Mumbai’s position in the tournament as they prepare for the knockout stage. Punjab ended with 16 points from 16 matches.
Mahmood, who was declared man-of-the-match, said: “Number three is a good number to bat on and I enjoy doing it. This man-of-the-match award is for my daughters.
“Also, I’m quite fortunate to have played with a great player like Gilchrist.”
Meanwhile, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma rued the team’s inability of forming partnerships during the chase.
“We didn’t start off well,” said Sharma, according to ESPNcricinfo. “I thought the target was not impossible. We kept losing wickets at regular intervals and couldn’t form any solid partnerships. It was very difficult to come back. I would like to congratulate Punjab. We need to regroup before the knockout stages. We have got to leave the negatives out.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2013.