Yuvraj's 40 overshadows Shreyas IyerâÂÂs half ton as Punjab register second straight win
Punjab's Yuvraj Singh
Shreyas Iyer unbeaten half-century went in vain as Yuvraj Singh struck a 34-ball 40 to help Punjab beat Mumbai by three wickets for their second successive win in the Super League stage of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy domestic T20 competition here yesterday.
Iyer scored 44-ball 79 with eight boundaries and four sixes to lift Mumbai to 198 for four. Vohra, Gurkeerat shine too In reply, Punjab were 72 for two when the out-of-favour India left-hander took control of the match with opener Manan Vohra (42 from 31 balls; 3x4s, 2x6s). Yuvraj's knock was studded with two fours and two sixes and also inspired Gurkeerat Singh to bring out his best with a quickfire 18-ball 43 (6x4s, 2x6s), as they chased down the target with four balls to spare.
Punjab, who beat Karnataka onâÂÂSunday, now have two wins in Group A while Jharkhand are virtually ousted after suffering a second successive defeat, against Rajasthan. Aditya Garhwal (43 and 2 for 15) dished out an all-round show as Rajasthan chased down 158 with five balls to spare earlier in the day. Mumbai's butterfingered fielders helped Punjab as Yuvraj was dropped twice — on eight and 32 — the second being a sitter grassed by Shreyas Iyer at long-off.
Yuvraj smashed two clean sixes, the first a flash over deep cover region and then he hit Parikshit Valsangkar over his head. After Vohra was dismissed by Shivam Dube (3 for 27), Yuvraj found a fine ally in Gurkeerat, who grew in confidence under the World Cup winner and punished the Mumbai bowling, helping the team race to 100 in 57 balls.
Close finish
Gurkeerat broke free with a reverse sweep off Dube before hitting Akash Parkar for two sixes and three fours in the 14th over. After Gurkeerat and Yuvraj's departure, Sharad Lumba held his nerve to complete the chase with an unbeaten 21 from 10 balls.
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