Mumbai Indians, five-time champs of IPL 2022, are still winless after five games this season, as they suffered yet another batting collapse against Punjab Kings at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Tuesday. Mayank Agarwal led-PBKS won the match by 12 runs to inflict a fifth defeat on Mumbai.
Invited to bat first, brilliant fifties by Shikhar Dhawan (70 off 50) and Mayank Agarwal (52 off 32) powered Punjab Kings to 198/5 in 20 overs. Apart from Shikhar and Mayank's superb hitting at the top, Jitesh Sharma (30 off 15) and Shahrukh Khan (15 not out off 6) gave late flourish to Punjab`s innings at lower down the order.
Basil Thampi (2/47), Jasprit Bumrah (1/28), Murugan Ashwin (1/34), Jaydev Unadkat (1/44) were the wicket-takers for Mumbai Indians.
READ| WATCH: Rohit Sharma smiles, puts arm around 'Baby AB' Dewald Brevis after his six-hitting spree
In reply, the likes of Dewald Brevis (49 off 25), Suryakumar Yadav (43 off 30) and Tilak Varma (36 off 20) tried hard but it wasn't enough as Mumbai Indians were restricted to 186-9 in 20 overs, losing by 12 runs.
Mumbai Indians nearly pulled off a major coup when youngsters Tilak Varma and 'Baby AB' Dewald Brevis came out to bat, the latter scoring a half-century, nearly, getting dismissed 49 runs off 25 balls. The South African prodigy's inning was laced with four boundaries and five sixes, including 29 off Rahul Chahar's ninth over.
There was also a bit of personal milestone for Rohit Sharma as well, who scored 10,000 runs in T20 cricket, becoming the second Indian player after Virat Kohli to do so.
READ| WATCH: 'Baby AB' Dewald Brevis hits longest six of IPL 2022, smacks 4 sixes in an over
Odean Smith (4/30), was the most successful bowler for Punjab while Kagiso Rabada (2/29) and Vaibhav Arora (1/43) also chipped in with crucial wickets.
The latest defeat leaves Mumbai rooted to the foot of the table, winless after five games, but for Mayank Agarwal's Punjab, they've risen to third place, with six points from five games.
With inputs from IANS
