Agencies/Mumbai
The Kings XI Punjab edged the Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in their Indian Premier League clash despite a magnificent counter-offensive led by Harbhajan Singh at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai last night
George Bailey produced his highest IPL score yet, an unbeaten 61 off 32 balls, to lead Punjab to 177 for five. He carved three fours and three sixes in his swashbuckling half-century as the visitors scored 50 runs in the final five overs. Singh hammered 64 off only 24 balls with five fours and six sixes. He and Jagadeesha Suchith resurrected the innings in spectacular fashion by adding 100 runs off a mere 39 deliveries for the seventh wicket. They joined forces on a near-disastrous 60 for six after 14 overs.
The two lower-order batsmen gave the hosts a sniff as they targeted Rishi Dhawan and Anureet Singh. With 30 runs needed for a win in the final over, Singh started explosively. He holed out to Sandeep Sharma on the point boundary off Anureet with one ball left as Mumbai was restricted to 159 for seven. Suchith finished unbeaten on 34 off 21 balls with four fours and two sixes.
Earlier, the Punjab swing bowlers Sandeep and Mitchell Johnson and the left-arm spinner Axar Patel had the top- and middle-order in disarray on 60 for six after 14 overs. Harbhajan and Suchith launched into the Mumbai-attack by smashing 56 runs between the 15th and 17th overs. It included three successive sixes by Singh off Anureet. Harbhajan completed his half-century off only 19 balls. He found the boundary ropes four times and cleared it on six occasions in his 50.
Suchith played with carefree abandon. He underlined his talent by hitting 17 runs in the penultimate over when he launched into Patel.
Brief score: Kings XI Punjab 177 for 5 in 20 overs (Bailey 61 not out, Harbhajan 2-20) beat Mumbai Indians 159 for 7 in 20 overs (Harbhajan 64, Johnson 2-23) by 18 runs
Harbhajan Singh
