Wriddhiman Saha’s blazing half-century boosts Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians

Wriddhiman Saha, who was preferred to open the innings over Kings XI Punjab’s regular opener Manan Vohra, brought up his half century with a six over long on off the bowling off Mumbai Indians’ Harbhajan Singh. His 50 came of 31 ball and included eight boundaries and one six.

Wriddhiman Saha played some delightful strokes to scoring his first half century of the 2017 Indian Premier League and give Kings XI Punjab a solid start against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. (MI vs KXIP: T20 MATCH BLOG)

Wriddhiman Saha en route to scoring his half-century for Kings XI Punjab against Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 match. (AFP)

Saha, who was preferred to open the innings over regular opener Manan Vohra, brought up his half century with a six over long on off the bowling off Harbhajan Singh. His 50 came of 31 ball and included eight boundaries and one six. KXIP eventually won the thrilling encounter against MI by seven runs. (MI vs KXIP: T20 SCORECARD)

Saha shared a first wicket partnership of 68 with Martin Guptill (18-ball 36) and 63 runs with skipper Glenn Maxwell (47) to put Kings XI on their way. Kinsx XI were 141 for two after 12 over when Saha brought his half century.

Saha and his opening partner Guptill gave Kings XI Punjab a off flying with their clean clean hitting. Kings XI Punjab scored 13 off the first over bowled by Hardik Pandya and then never looked back.

The ball came on the ball nicely which was to the liking of the both openers as they brought their 50 in just 3.4 over with 38 of those runs coming in boundaries.

Guptill in his endeavour to get as many in the Powerplay holed out to Hardik Pandya at long on off the bowling of Karn Sharma. He scored 18-ball 36 and stitched a 63-run partnership with Saha.

Later, Maxwell too got off the blocks with a bang hitting five sixes and two boundaries in his short but entertaining innings of 47 which lasted 21 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah was the only Mumbai Indians’ bowlers who didn’t went for much giving away just 12 in two overs he bowled in the Powerplay. Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan and Lasith Malinga -- all of whom bowled one over each in Powerplays -- went for plenty.