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In a thrilling encounter at Mullanpur on Thursday (April 18), Mumbai Indians (MI) clinched a crucial victory over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a narrow margin of 9 runs, keeping their fight alive for a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs.
Mumbai Indians’ dominant batting display
Opting to bat first, Mumbai got off to a solid start with their top order accumulating 54 runs in the powerplay. However, it was Suryakumar Yadav who stole the show with a sublime innings, crafting a magnificent 78 runs off just 53 deliveries, embellished with seven boundaries and three towering sixes. Supported by contributions from Rohit Sharma (36) and Tilak Varma (34), Mumbai posted a competitive score of 192/7.
Gerald Coetzee’s early breakthrough
Mumbai’s quest for a strong start with the ball was fulfilled in spectacular fashion by the dynamic pace bowler Gerald Coetzee. In a pivotal moment of the match, Coetzee demonstrated his skill and precision by dismissing the hard-hitting batter Prabhsimran Singh in the very first over, courtesy of a sublime diving catch executed by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.
Also WATCH: Prabhsimran Singh takes a breathtaking flying catch to get rid of Suryakumar Yadav in PBKS vs MI clash | IPL 2024
Ishan Kishan’s spectacular diving catch
The pivotal moment unfolded on the third ball of the opening over, as Coetzee delivered a back-of-a-length delivery, angling down the leg stump line. Prabhsimran, the right-handed batter, sought to flick at the negative line delivery, aiming to capitalize on any scoring opportunity. Nevertheless, his attempted stroke resulted in an inside edge, directing the ball towards the left of the wicketkeeper.
Recognizing the opportunity, Kishan exhibited remarkable agility and anticipation, swiftly adjusting his position to intercept the ball. With unparalleled reflexes and determination, Kishan threw himself towards his left, executing a full-stretch dive to reach the ball. Despite the challenging trajectory of the delivery, Kishan’s unwavering commitment and athleticism ensured that he successfully grasped the ball, thereby effecting the dismissal of Prabhsimran.
Here’s the video:
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Ashutosh Sharma’s heroics in vain
As the innings progressed, Coetzee alongside Jasprit Bumrah continued to torment the Punjab batting lineup, each claiming three wickets and reducing them to a precarious position of 77/6. Nonetheless, Punjab’s Ashutosh Sharma launched a spirited counterattack, decimating the Mumbai bowling attack, including the likes of Bumrah, with a blistering knock of 62 runs off just 28 balls. Despite Sharma’s heroics, Punjab ultimately faltered in their chase, falling short of the target by 9 runs.