Malinga bowls Mumbai to win

Kings XI Punjab hadn't allowed the powerful Mumbai Indians batting line-up to get away, restricting them to 159, despite half-centuries from Ambati Rayudu and Sachin Tendulkar. But against a bowling attack led by Lasith Malinga, 159 suddenly assumes larger proportions. The Sri Lanka fast bowler showed just why, and against one of the in-form opposition batsmen.

Paul Valthaty could do no wrong so far in IPL 2011, or so it seemed. He spent the first two weeks competing with Sachin Tendulkar for the orange cap. He even got the dropped chances when needed. How would he fare against a strong Mumbai attack? As it transpired, he was sorted out right from the beginning by Malinga. He faced eight deliveries from Malinga, and managed an inside-edged single to fine leg. The first three deliveries were expectedly full and furious. Beaten. Leading edge. Inside edge. The next three were short. Fended away. Beaten. Left alone. Another full delivery. Beaten. As if to leave a final mark, Malinga gave him the full-blooded yorker next. Jabbed away. End of contest.

Valthaty never got going, and Punjab were always behind the asking rate. Shaun Marsh tried to keep them in the game with another serene half-century. He was the only batsmen to get Malinga away for a boundary. With 34 required from the last two overs and Marsh still around, Malinga conceded only six runs in the penultimate over and also had Marsh hitting a pacy low full toss straight to Tendulkar at midwicket. End of game.

Malinga also found time earlier to do what he does best, shattering timber, with a yorker that uprooted Bipul Sharma's off stump. It was a normal day at office.