Saha scored his sixth IPL fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Wriddhiman Saha smashed an unbeaten 93 to guide the Kings XI Punjab to a narrow seven-run win over the Mumbai Indians.
With their victory, the Kings XI are still in contention for a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs.
Being put in to bat first, the Kings XI got off to a great start as Saha and Martin Guptill amassed a 68-run partnership before Guptill was dismissed by Karn Sharma for 36.
Saha and captain Glenn Maxwell kept the runs flowing with a 63-run stand before Maxwell was clean bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for a 21-ball 47.
The Kings XI continued to dominate with the bat as Saha and Shaun Marsh put together a 52-run partnership, during which Saha surpassed his half-century, before Marsh was caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell McClenaghan for 25.
Saha and Axar Patel ensured the Kings XI concluded their innings on a high as they mustered an unbeaten 47-run partnership to help their side finish on 230/3.
Saha ended up making 93 off 55 balls, which included 11 boundaries and three sixes, while Patel remained undefeated on 19 off 13 deliveries, which included a six.
McClenaghan, Bumrah and Karn picked up one wicket apiece.
Chasing 231 to win, the Indians made a fabulous start to their innings as Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel accumulated a 99-run partnership, during which Simmons brought up his fifty, before Patel was sent packing by Mohit Sharma for 38.
Simmons went on to make 59 off 32 balls, which included five boundaries and four sixes, before he was dismissed by Maxwell.
Simmons made his 11th IPL fifty
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Captain Rohit Sharma and Nitish Rana fell shortly after, but Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya stabilised the innings with a 55-run partnership before Pandya was caught behind off the bowling of Sandeep Sharma for 30.
Even though Pollard proceeded to finish unbeaten on 50 off 24 balls, which included a boundary and five sixes, the Indians fell just short of their target.
Pollard struck five sixes en route to his 12th IPL fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Mohit was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Sandeep, Maxwell, Patel and Rahul Tewatia claimed one wicket each.
Saha was named Man of the Match.