IPL: Mumbai Indians ease to 215 target courtesy Kishan-Suryakumar show

Punjab Kings have a deep batting line-up, which allows them to approach their innings in a fearless manner.

They duly posted 200-plus for the fourth time in a row – an IPL record – courtesy an unbroken stand of 119 in 8.4 overs from Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma.

Yet, they ended up on the losing side. And that was down to a masterclass in T20 batting from Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, who helped Mumbai Indians hunt down 215 with plenty to spare just three days after they had also successfully chased 213.

Livingstone and Jitesh had swung, slapped, and sliced Mumbai’s bowlers all around during their century stand, to lift Kings from 95 for 3 in the 12th to 214.

Livingstone cracked 82 off 42, while Jitesh missed his half-century by one run, getting to 49 from 27.

But then Suryakumar hammered 66 at more than two runs a ball and Kishan slammed 75 to further clog the points table, where four sides – including both these teams – sit on ten points each.

The race to playoffs has indeed heated up. (ESPNcricinfo)