PBKS vs MI

That rounds up the action for tonight. Tomorrow, the action goes back to the Ekana Stadium with LSG hosting CSK for yet another important clash. Will LSG prove to be party poopers for CSK like the way MI did for PBKS tonight or will CSK get those two points and get into the top 4 for the first time this season? Make sure you join us to find out, for now this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and the rest of the team. Cheers!

Tilak Verma is the Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten 75 off 33 balls, this is what he said: I love finishing the games. Playing World Cup, playing for the country has helped me a lot, to gain experience and confidence. We did not expect a wicket like this, the ball was keeping slow and low. We saw in the first innings how Punjab struggled for the first 15 overs, then Azmat and Vishnu got going. I trusted myself to take the game deep, just held my shape and backed my shots. In the second timeout, I told the coach that we needed just the one big over and that came against Yuzi bhai. (on Jacks' innings) His innings was really helpful. I just told him hold the shape, the balls was flying here with the altitude. Watch out for the pace off deliveries because those were the deliveries that were hard to hit, he got those sixes away and they were under pressure

A winning start for Jasprit Bumrah the MI skipper, here is what he had to say: 1 from 1, it was a good game of cricket. Both teams played good cricket, we did well to pull it back but there was a bit of slip up with a few dropped catches. Looks like bowling at the end is much harder now. The wicket looked much drier than the previous game, it might not have been as cold as the other night and that is why we decided to go to the plans of going into the wicket, held our lengths and kept the stumps in play. Tilak's knock and Shardul's spell, credits to Tilak to hold his nerve with wickets falling around him. Jacks coming in at the last, those small contributions can go unnoticed. (experiencing of captaining in IPL) Like I said, I have captained a test match, T20 now and the only thing remaining is ODIs which I don't see happening. Jokes apart, good weather, good fun, enjoyed it

Will Jacks [Mumbai Indians]: [On Mumbai Indians’ important victory]“Things definitely feel a lot better after a win like that. The season hasn’t gone exactly the way we would have wanted so far, but there’s still plenty to play for in the games remaining, and it’s always great to get a victory.”[On his late cameo alongside Tilak Varma]“We were mainly trying to read what the bowlers were attempting to do. There was one bigger boundary they were trying to protect, and having someone like Tilak already set at the other end helped a lot because he had a good understanding of the pace of the pitch and the bowling plans. I was able to feed off that and settle quickly.”[On the nature of the Dharamsala surface]“It felt like the hard-length deliveries skidding through caused the most trouble, especially when the bowlers hit the pitch hard. We noticed that while bowling as well with the bowled and LBW dismissals. It wasn’t an easy wicket despite the score, and personally I quite enjoy those kinds of conditions where there’s still something in it for the bowlers.”[On his bowling role within the side]“With so many bowling options and different match situations, every game requires a different approach. You can’t really chase opportunities too much — you just stay ready and contribute whenever the team needs you.”

Shreyas Iyer [Punjab Kings captain]: [On another close defeat for Punjab Kings]“It’s definitely a tough pill to swallow, but I don’t want to single out any one moment or situation. I thought it was a fantastic game of cricket overall. Mumbai played really well, especially with the way their batter paced the chase, selected his shots, and manipulated the field. Credit to him for the way he handled the innings.”[On Azmatullah Omarzai’s impact with the bat]“At one stage, we were probably looking at a total around 170 or 180, but Azmatullah completely shifted the momentum in our favour. Those crucial sixes around the 16th and 17th overs gave us the push we needed, and getting past 200 was a tremendous effort from him.”[On the upcoming must-win games]“We’re definitely excited for the next challenge. The next game being an afternoon match will bring different conditions, and with two important games remaining, we know we need to win both. The team is looking forward to that challenge.”

11:20 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Mumbai Indians (205/4 in 19.5 overs) beat Punjab Kings (200/8 in 20 overs) by 6 wickets

Tilak Verma 75*(33) | Shardul Thakur 4/39(4)
Prabhsimran Singh 57(32) | Azmatullah Omarzai 2/36(4)

Party poopers they say, that is exactly what Mumbai Indians have proved to be in Dharamsala! Tilak Verma leaps in joy, he points to his dugout and brings out the celebration that we saw in the Asia Cup final, remember? They have literally robbed 2 crucial points from PBKS, two points that could well decide the fate of the home team. 5 losses in a row for the beaten finalists from last year and they have now been pushed into must-win territory which might sound outlandish if you look at the start they got to the season

Not to forget the invaluable 10-ball 25* from Will Jacks at the end, he came to the crease with 51 needed off 21 and then combined with Tilak to make sure the job is done for the 5-time champs. They needed 72 off the last 5 overs, Iyer had removed Chahal from the attack earlier after he bowled 3 overs for 1/12 and then brought him back with 5 overs to spare, traveled the journey and that was a big moment in the game. So was the 18th over, Jansen gave away 22 off it and the tide turned in MI's favor with Tilak and Jacks in the centre of it all

Previously, it was a powerplay dominated by Rickelton who smashed 46 in the first 6 overs on his own. Rohit was scratchy, so was Rutherford the two of them combinedly made 45 runs off 47 balls but PBKS were just not good enough with the ball in the crunch moments, specially Jansen (1/55) and Bartlett (0/53 in 3.5 overs)

PBKS remain stuck on 13 points, they are just about in the top-4 at number 4 but CSK and RR are right on their heels now with one match in hand for the both of them. Trick, tricky situation now this for a side which did not lose even one of its first 7 games of the season

19.5 Xavier Bartlett to N. Tilak Varma, SIX MORE! TILAK HAS PULLED OFF A HEIST FOR MI! Bartlett can't hold his nerve, Tilak runs across, removes his helmet and jumps in the air with joy as MI get over the line. PBKS suffer their fifth defeat in a row, they stay at the fifth spot. Short into the batter, Tilak swivels and clubbed it over deep backward square-leg for a maximum to seal the game in style.

Surely that has sealed it for MI! 2 needed from 2 now. The MI dugout on its feet to applaud that hit. Arshdeep having some words with Bartlett now

19.4 Xavier Bartlett to N. Tilak Varma, SIX! BANG! Outrageous shot from Tilak, he's doing it for MI. Back of a length outside the off-stump, width on offer and Tilak spanked it all the way over deep extra-cover for a maximum. PBKS staring at their fifth defeat in a row, what a downfall!

19.3 Xavier Bartlett to N. Tilak Varma, CRUCIAL DOT FROM BARTLETT! Pace off, angled it way outside the off-stump. Tilak shuffling across to scoop and misses. Massive dot ball from Bartlett. 

8 off 4, Tilak back on strike. Tense faces in both the dugouts, more so for PBKS. Iyer having another chat with Bartlett, Tilak walks to the side as the field gets set. Long leg, mid-wicket, long-on, cover and long-off are on the fence

19.1 Xavier Bartlett to Will Jacks, SIX TO START! Huge hit from Jacks. Low full toss, dipping into the batter. Jacks picked it up and pummeled it straight down the ground for a maximum.