MI VS PBKS MATCH 31

Right then, that's it from the coverage of this game. The Indian T20 League 2023 action continues on 23rd April, with yet another double-header coming your way. It will be Bangalore and Rajasthan who will kick things off at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT), followed by a game between Kolkata and Chennai at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You all know you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

So, the stand-in skipper of Punjab, Sam Curran wins the Player of the Match award for his incredible knock with the bat in hand. He says that the win is pretty special and adds that it is an amazing ground and to win as a visiting side and defend the total was special. Reckons that he should have not been getting this award and applauds Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis for the way they bowled at the death. Tells that Shikhar Dhawan is a massive player and they needed to take more responsibility in his absence. Adds that they bat deep and that showed in the way Jitesh Sharma came and went bang bang. Says that the team is coming together nicely and hopes that Shikhar Dhawan will be fit soon. Mentions that young Indians are doing well in his absence and credits support staff as well for creating a good environment. He adds that they won two games upfront and that helps but it is still a long way to go and they just want to enjoy themselves and not put too much pressure.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Arshdeep Singh, the man of the moment is in for a quick chat. He says that it feels good whenever he takes a wicket and it feels better when the team win. Tells that the rhythm is good and he changed his run-up before the Indian T20 League and it helped him with his no-ball problems. Signs off by saying that his heart rate was not even close to 120 in the final overs.

Rohit Sharma, the skipper of Mumbai says that it is a little disappointing to see the way they bowled at the death but feels that it happens in cricket. Mentions that they need to keep their heads high and they have won three and lost three and adds that there is a lot of time left in the tournament. Mentions that they need to stay in the game and in the competition. Says that he is quite happy with Green and Suryakumar Yadav’s performance and applauds them for keeping Mumbai in the game till the end. Credits Arshdeep Singh for the way he bowled and signed off by saying that they gave a good fight.

Earlier in the innings, Mumbai had the opposition by the scruff of the neck, at 83-4 in the 10th over. Although, there was a twist in the tale when Arjun Tendulkar went for 31 runs in the 16th over. Thereafter, the Punjab batters only dealt in boundaries till the very end and managed to post a target of 215 runs. Piyush Chawla was the lone star with the ball with his economical spell and two wickets. In reply, Mumbai fought really hard but could not get over the line.

Punjab will be delighted with these 2 points! Arshdeep Singh put his hands up in the final over, and he snapped the middle stump twice on consecutive deliveries and sent a dagger through the heart of every Mumbai fan. The left-arm pacer was exceptional with the ball as he picked up a four-wicket haul. Nathan Ellis and Liam Livingstone chipped in with a wicket as well, but the former was on the expensive side.

Mumbai were in it to win it till the very end! It was not an ideal start for them as they lost Ishan Kishan very early on. Then the pair of Rohit Sharma and Cameron Green stitched a crucial stand to get their chase back on track, although the skipper slipped out on 44. This did not raise much concern in the Mumbai camp, as SKY came to the middle and made his intentions clear from the word go. Green and Yadav, both scored their respective half-centuries, took it deep and kept their side in the game. Unfortunately for Mumbai, they lost both these batters in quick succession and later it proved to be a bit too much for Tim David to get Mumbai over the line, without much support from the other end.

WHAT A MATCH! Oh, my word! A humdinger of an encounter. What a high-scoring nail-biter this match turned out to be. A statement victory for Punjab, away from home, and that too, without Shikhar Dhawan in the side. The stand-in skipper, Sam Curran would be very elated with this win. Oh dear, there are no words to express this Mumbai inning. The hosts gave Punjab a run for their money till the very end, but could not record their fourth win on the trot. It was certainly a treat to watch these two sides go at each other.

So, just a single to end the game and Punjab win by 13 runs! A full toss on off from 'round the wicket again from Arshdeep Singh and Archer only manages to hit it to long off for a single. Brilliant last over and a brilliant spell from Arshdeep Singh has sealed it for Punjab!

Oh, no hat-trick for Arshdeep Singh!  Absolutely brilliant delivery though, it is a yorker outside off from 'round the wicket. Archer tries to dig it out but misses.

Jofra Archer comes to the crease now.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Arshdeep Singh breaks the middle stump once again! Incredible stuff from the left-armer and he is surely a class apart! Another yorker on middle. Nehal Wadhera looks to pump it down the ground but all he gets to see is his middle stump out of the ground. Arshdeep Singh has sealed it for Punjab! He is on a hat-trick now!

Nehal Wadhera is the new man at the crease. He is the IMPACT PLAYER for Mumbai. He comes into the XI for Jason Behrendorff.

OUT! BOWLED! What a bowler, this young man is! He is so calm and composed under pressure. Nails another yorker, on middle. Varma tries his best to heave it towards the leg side but misses it and the ball knocks over the middle pole. In fact, he snaps it in half. 15 needed now from 3 balls! It has now gotten very tough for Mumbai!

Short delivery on middle as Tilak Varma gets on his knee to heave it towards the leg side. He takes the review as he wants a wide but it is all good and replays confirm it.

Tilak Varma take a review for wide. The umpire says it is a legal delivery. The third umpire now comes into the picture, he informs that it is a legal delivery. It remains as a dot ball.

Just a single to start! Brilliant yorker outside off and David hits it to sweeper cover for a single.