Dubai: Kings XI Punjab pulled off an exciting seven-run victory, stopping the mighty Mumbai Indians’ spirited chase towards a tough 231-run target at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Punjab’s top order batsmen Wriddhiman Saha and skipper Glenn Maxwell helped Punjab post an impressive 230 for 3. Saha was in full flow cracking an unbeaten 93 runs off 55 balls with 11 boundaries and three sixes. After a fine opening partnership of 68 runs with Martin Guptill (36), he also put on 63 runs with Maxwell in 5.3 overs. Maxwell hit 47 off 21 balls with two fours and five sixes.

Mumbai openers Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel gave their team an electrifying start. They put on a 50 partnership in just five overs. Simmons reached his half century in just 27 balls.

Patel fell after scoring 38 runs and putting on 99 runs in 8.4 overs. Simmons followed hitting Maxwell to Guptill, who pulled off a one handed leaping catch at long on. His 59 off 32 balls contained five fours and four sixes. Skipper Rohit Sharma lasted only seven balls to score five runs giving Guptill his second catch at mid-wicket off leg spinner Rahul Tewatia while Nitish Rana on 12 too hit left-arm spinner Axar Patel to Guptill at deep mid-wicket for his third catch.

From 121 for 4 in 12.4 overs, Kieron Pollard started hitting sixes. Mumbai needed 83 runs in the last five overs, Hardik Pandya and Pollard hit two sixes each off Matt Henry to take 27 runs in one over. The pair put on 55 runs in 3.3 overs before Pandya fell for 30 off 13 balls. Karn Sharma (19) added another 31 runs with Pollard in just 1.4 overs. Sixteen runs needed off the last six balls Mohit Sharma bowled brilliantly to win the match for Punjab. Pollard’s unbeaten 50 off 24 balls went in vain.

Earlier, Mumbai won the toss and elected to field. Punjab opener Guptill hit the first ball from Hardik Pandya for a boundary over the covers. Off the third ball Guptill got a thick outer edge and though Harbhajan Singh got a finger to it, the ball raced to the boundary. Saha square drove the last ball of that over for a boundary. Thirteen runs came off the first over.

Mitchell McClenaghan too was hit by two boundaries by Saha _ the first was a nudge past third man and the next he lifted over mid-on. He also hit a no-ball for a second boundary to take 16 runs off that over.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a better third over giving away just three runs. The first six of the match came when Guptill hit a Lasith Malinga no-ball for a six over long-on. Saha too smashed Malinga for two consecutive boundaries and the openers put on a 50 runs partnership in just 3.4 overs . Karn Sharma dismissed Guptill, who slog swept to Hardik for 36 runs.

Maxwell joined Saha and began by picking a boundary past the slip and third man. Saha too hit McClenaghan for another boundary between backward point and short third man. Maxwell hit Sharma’s first ball of his second over for a six over long on and also the fifth ball of that over for another six over the extra cover. Punjab went past the 100 run mark in 7.6 overs.

Harbhajan’s first two balls of the over were hit for two successive sixes - the first over square leg and next over mid-wicket. The fifth ball from Harbhajan was also hit for a six over long-on for a 50 runs partnership in 3.2 overs. Harbhajan was hit for 21 runs in the first over. At the half way mark Punjab were 126 for 1.

Maxwell, trying to cut, missed a Bumrah delivery, and got bowled for 47. The pair put on 63 runs in 5.3 overs. Saha reached his half century in 31 balls with a six off Harbhajan over mid-wicket. Shaun Marsh too hit Harbhajan for a six over mid-wicket in the 14th over.

With six overs left, Punjab looked certain to cross the 200 run mark. Saha lifted Malinga effortlessly for a six over long off. Shaun Marsh fell for 25 off 16 balls with two sixes when McClenaghan, trying a cross bat swing did not connect and got caught by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. He put on 52 runs in 4.2 overs with Saha. Punjab reached the 200 run mark in 17 over with Saha in full flow but failed to reach his century.

Brief scores:

Kings XI Punjab bt Mumbai Indians by 7 runs. Punjab 230 for 3 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 36, Wriddhiman Saha 93n.o, Glenn Maxwell 47, Shaun Marsh 25) Mumbai 223 for 6 in 20 overs (Lendl Simmons 59, Parthiv Patel 38, Kieron Pollard 50n.o, Hardik Pandya 30, Mohit Sharma 2 for 57)