Punjab and Mumbai are locking horns in the 23rd game of the Indian T20 League 2022 in Pune. After winning the toss, the five-time winners chose to bowl first. However, the decision proved costly for the team as their bowlers couldn’t pick a wicket in the first nine overs. Punjab’s openers Shikhar Dhawan, and skipper Mayank Agarwal provided a great launching pad for the other batters.
Agarwal took the attack to the opposition bowlers while Dhawan played steadily. The duo stitched a partnership of 97 runs in 9.3 overs before the former got out to Murugan Ashwin. Before being dismissed by Ashwin, the right-hander scored 52 off 32 balls including six fours and two sixes. During his innings, he targeted Ashwin in the latter’s first over of the game. He hit two fours and a six in the fifth over of the innings to take the score from 36/0 to 53/0.
After his wicket, Jonny Bairstow came out to bat and stitched a partnership of 30 with Shikhar Dhawan. The former was struggling at the crease with 12 off 13 balls before being clean bowled by left-arm medium pacer Jaydev Unadkat. Liam Livingstone, who hit two back-to-back fifties in the last two games, couldn’t do much either as he was clean bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for two.
Shikhar Dhawan went on to score 70 off 50 balls including five fours and three sixes. He was caught by Kieron Pollard off Basil Thampi’s bowling with the scorecard reading 151/4 in 17 overs. Jitesh Sharma scored 30 off 15 balls with two sixes and as many fours. Shahrukh Khan then scored 15 off six balls. In the last over, Khan hit two sixes against Thampi to take the score to 197 before he was clean bowled by the pacer.
The team ended the innings on 198/5, setting a target of 199 for the Rohit Sharma-led side to win. The team in blue are yet to win a game in the ongoing season, having lost four out of as many games so far.
This is how Twitter reacted
Mayank Agarwal was all calm & then SKY came collecting.
There's a lot to admire about this low key #PBKS captain.#MIvsPBKS— Å¡Ä·w♤ (@4_Simplicity_) April 13, 2022
Great early aggression from Mayank Agarwal, who's gone to another level in recent years. He has recorded a positive batting Impact in each of the last three seasons, consistent and rapid scoring.
— Satyam Singh (@MyFreakyTweets) April 13, 2022
Captain Mayank Agarwal in some fun mode… Striking everywhere at his will..#MIvPBKS
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) April 13, 2022
ðŸ˜ðŸ’¥ CAPTAIN'S COMEBACK! Mayank Agarwal has played an outstanding knock to bring up his first fifty of #IPL2022.
👉 This is also his first half-century as the captain of PBKS!
📸 IPL • #MayankAgarwal #MIvPBKS #PBKSvMI #IPL #IPL2022 #TATAIPL #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/kAzioFSbOL
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) April 13, 2022
Rutu played 3 T20I games after 1 great season. Ishan played 10 games after performing in 1 ipl season. Venky played 9 T20I games after performing in 4-5 IPL matches and Mayank Agarwal hasn't even made his T20I debut yet. Disadvantages of not playing for a big franchise I guess
— shruti (DK fan acc) (@Quick__Single) April 13, 2022
Well played, Mayank Agarwal. He scored Brilliant 52 runs from 32 balls including 6 Fours and 2 Sixes against Mumbai Indians. And also today his 100th IPL Innings as well. pic.twitter.com/smxxnwhTq4
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 13, 2022
Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan are back in business, good news for PBKS – first fifty for both of them in this #IPL2022.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 13, 2022
First 50 as the captain of Punjab kings, well played Mayank Agarwal #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/xZhtYQA1EM
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) April 13, 2022
Fifty by Mayank Agarwal#IPL2022 #MIvPBKS pic.twitter.com/F0zRtzyt4E
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) April 13, 2022
Mayank Agarwal M. Agarwal
in first 3 match in today match pic.twitter.com/lNC4k9K47C— Tha7a Fan (@Tha7aKirkut) April 13, 2022
