IPL 2021: Aiden Markram Top-Scores With 42, Mumbai Restrict Punjab to 135/6

Mumbai need to win the match, to move back in contention for the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians have restricted Punjab Kings to 135/6

(Photo: BCCI/IPL)

Mumbai Indians have restricted Punjab Kings to 135/6 in Match 42 of the 2021 IPL at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field in the evening fixture and while Punjab started on a steady note, scoring 36 runs for the first wicket once Mandeep Singh fell in the second delivery of the fifth over, Punjab lost three more wickets over the next 13 deliveries as they were reduced to 48/4 in 7.3 overs.

Aiden Markram top-scored for the team with 42 runs off 29 deliveries as Punjab eventually managed to post 135/6.

For Mumbai, Jasprit Bumrah and Kieron Pollard took two wickets each while Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar had one scalp each.

Krunal picked his first wicket of the match and in the UAE leg of the tournament by trapping Mandeep Singh lbw in the final over of power-play. Singh tried to move across to sweep but missed the delivery, which looked to hit the stumps.

Punjab lost their second wicket on the second ball after power-play with Chris Gayle holing out to long-on off Kieron Pollard, who claimed his 300th victim in IPL. Punjab's troubles increased as captain KL Rahul followed Gayle to the pavilion in the same over, miscuing a pull to short fine leg.

Nicholas Pooran tried to flick but missed Jasprit Bumrah's low dipping full toss trapped him lbw. Pooran took the review but failed to change the result, burning his team's review in process, leaving Punjab at 48/4 in 7.3 overs.

Aiden Markram and Deepak Hooda led the fightback for Punjab, adding 61 runs for the fifth wicket. Markram was the more strokeful of the two, crunching delightful boundaries through off-side.

He took a liking to Trent Boult in the 15th over, driving and punching through cover on consecutive deliveries before Hooda sliced him over backward point. Boult gave Hooda a reprieve on 25, spilling a tough caught and bowled chance on the final ball of the over.

Rahul Chahar ended the partnership in the 16th over when Markram tried to sweep and rattled his off-stump. After Markram's dismissal, Mumbai kept Punjab on a tight leash by drying the boundaries in a display of immaculate death bowling.

The strategy worked as Hooda tried to break the boundary-less streak and holed out to long-off off Bumrah in the 19th over, ensuring that Punjab were restricted to a below-par total.