Published on 01:55 AM, April 23, 2023

Arshdeep stars as Punjab edge out Mumbai

PHOTO: AFP

Punjab Kings triumphed in Mumbai with a hitting bout between the tournament's two most expensive players in near-perfect batting conditions in the day's Indian Premier League second match at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday.

It was however death overs specialist Arshdeep, who struck a decisive blow in the 18th over to dismiss an on-song Suryakumar with Mumbai needing another 33 from 15 balls, and bowled an impressive final over while accounting for Tilak Varma ((3) and Nehal Wadhera (0) to return with figures of 4-0-29-4.

Sam Curran steered the Kings to 214-8, with the Indians falling 13 short in reply.

Curran, who returned to Punjab for an eye-watering $2.23 million after December's player auction, hit a quickfire 55 off 29 balls with five fours and four sixes.

He had help from Harpreet Singh (41) and Jitesh Sharma (25) to give Punjab their highest score of the season, being dismissed when Jofra Archer took a return catch on the second-last over.

Cameron Green, Mumbai's $2.11 million man, made 67 off 43 balls in reply to keep the home side in the fight with help from Suryakumar Yadav's 57.

But Mumbai's brief window to come out on top was closed by left-armer Arshdeep Singh, who took Yadav and two other wickets in the final overs for match figures of 4-29.