IPL 2013: Azhar Mahmood and Shaun Marsh’s fifties help Punjab post 183 against Mumbai
By Sarang Bhalerao
Dharamsala: May 18, 2013
Azhar Mahmood and Shaun Marsh‘s fifties have helped Kings XI Punjab score 183 for eight in their last league of Indian Premier League (IPL) against Mumbai Indians at Dharamsala.
The highlight of the innings was the third wicket partnership of 148 off 80 deliveries between Mahmood and Marsh. Mahmood (80 off 44 deliveries) and Marsh (63 off 47 balls) batted with a positive intent and hammered the Mumbai Indians bowling.
After opening the batting with new opening combination of Glenn Maxwell and Aditya Tare in the last game against Rajasthan Royals, this time Mumbai had a new bowling partnership —Nathan Coulter-Nile and Rishi Dhawan.
Dhawan got Mandeep Singh in his first over [second of the innings]. Mandeep attempted an off-drive which he failed to keep it down and spooned an easy catch to Kieron Pollard. In the next over Coulter-Nile picked up Gilchrist in his final IPL game. The Punjab captain tried to pull a relatively fuller delivery. The ball sneaked past his bat and he was bowled to give Coulter-Nile his maiden IPL wicket on his debut.
After the early loss of wickets Mahmood (batting at three) and Marsh consolidated. After five overs, Punjab were just 22. But Marsh counterattacked. In the last Powerplay over, Marsh took on Dhawal Kulkarni; three boundaries in the sixth over shifted the momentum towards Punjab.
Mahmood attacked Lasith Malinga in his first over [eighth of the innings]. He started the assault with a hook that went over fine-leg for a six. The next ball was driven past backward point for a boundary. A cover-drive off the next ball went for a boundary past Harbhajan Singh. The next ball on the pads was flicked nonchalantly towards fine-leg. Punjab got 20 off the eighth over and Mumbai looked befuddled.
After one over, Malinga was taken off and Kieron Pollard was introduced into the attack. He bowled a benign half-volley to Marsh which was carted through covers for a four. Pollard overcompensated by bowling Marsh on his pads which whipped wide of mid-wicket. Mahmood-Marsh alliance was taking the control of the game.
Another first over by a Mumbai bowler went for runs. Mahmood took on Maxwell. The sortie began with a straight six over the bowler, then a flighted delivery was thumped over long-on; Maxwell bowled a short delivery which was cut past vacant point region. Eighteen runs came off Maxwell’s first over.
In the 17th over, Mahmood started the carnage off Harbhajan by hitting a four through extra-covers and then hit him straight for a six. But Harbhajan came back strongly by picking up Marsh who looked to slog the bowler. He missed; Harbhajan hit.
In the next over Mahmood missed Malinga’s full-toss and was dismissed for 80. David Miller scored only six and was dismissed trying to hit Pollard down-town. Manan Vohra’s cameo (20 off eight) in the end ensured Punjab scored a competitive total.
Malinga brought up his 100th IPL wicket when he picked up Praveen Kumar off the final ball of the innings.
Mumbai made two other changes, though. Coulter-Nile replaced Mitchell Johnson who was rested. Rishi Dhawan, the local lad, came in for Pragyan Ojha. Punjab were forced to make one change with R Sathish missing the game as he strained his knee in the training; Gurkeerat Mann replaced him.
Brief scores:
Kings XI Punjab 183 for 8 (Azhar Mahmood 80, Shaun Marsh 63; Lasith Malinga 3 for 39) vs Mumbai Indians.
(Sarang Bhalerao hails from family of doctors, but did his engineering. He then dumped a career in IT with Infosys to follow his heart and passion and became a writer with CricketCountry. A voracious reader, Sarang aspires to beat Google with his knowledge of the game! You can follow him on Twitter here)