Punjab Kings outplayed Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, securing a 7-wicket victory as half-centuries from Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer powered a comfortable chase of 196, completed with 21 balls remaining.
Former Punjab and Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on PBKS skipper Shreyas, who has revolutionised the side seeking their maiden IPL title.
“What I like about Shreyas is that it not only he who performs, he makes the batter at the other end play well too,” Ashwin said.
“Their bowling unit looked rather ordinary, but he has turned that around in the last couple of games too,” he said.
“He brings in Shashank Singh and he picks up a wicket like Chris Harris,” the spinner joked.
“Whatever he touches turns
to gold,” the spinner opined.
“He has been piling on Mumbai’s miseries with his performances against them.
“He averages around 180 against Mumbai in his last three innings at a strike rate of around 200.”
“And at no stage did he look troubled,” he added.
Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran began the pursuit for Punjab, but Arya was dismissed by Allah Ghazanfar for 15. Cooper Connolly then joined Prabhsimran and scored 17 off 12 deliveries before Ghazanfar struck again.
Captain Shreyas Iyer then took charge of the chase alongside Prabhsimran, with the pair stitching together a 139-run partnership, during which both reached their fifties.
Shreyas was removed by Shardul Thakur after scoring 66, while Prabhsimran stayed unbeaten on 80. Marcus Stoinis added a handy 10 not out as Punjab wrapped up the chase in just 16.3 overs.
