Saha, Guptill star in Punjab win over Mumbai
The duo scored at 12.36 runs in the 5.3 overs that they batted together.
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-May-2017
Wriddhiman Saha hit more fours than he had hit all season before this match • BCCI
Wriddhman Saha and Martin Guptill successfully filled the void left by the absence of Hashim Amla and David Miller - out on national duty - by adding a 68 run opening partnership that helped Punjab amass a massive 230-run total, which proved out of Mumbai's reach in the Indian Twenty20 competition at Wankhede stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.
Punjab gambled, after being put in to bat first, by promoting Saha to the top, in place of their inform opener, Manan Vohra. The ploy paid dividends as Saha used the pace on offer from Mumbai's seamers to hit four fours off his first seven balls. Guptill took the power-packed option and smacked through the line. The early onslaught helped Punjab reach 50 in just 3.4 overs, the second fastest this season behind Kolkata Knight Riders, who got there in 3.3 overs.
Guptill fell in the sixth over for a 18-ball 36, which included five fours and a six. Saha joined forces with Glenn Maxwell and the duo continued to pepper the boundary regularly. The top five Punjab batsmen found quick runs and helped their side to a mammoth total. Saha remained unbeaten on a 55-ball 93, with 11 fours and three sixes. It was Saha's second-highest T20 score. Mumbai put on an impressive batting display, but fell seven-runs short of the target.