By Vadiraj Kanakagiri

Mumbai have found their mojo back. The very thing that was missing from their losses from their previous outings, the lower order hitting, powered them to the victory here.

If Punjab Kings knew how to handle pressure, they would've been topping the table by now. Narrow losses time and again have inflicted the kind of pain, both in players and fans, whenever the match gets remotely close, the player's skill level drop down below to gargantuan levels. In trying not to choke, they're choking on even further levels.

Punjab faced a setback before the start when Mayank was ruled out with an injury. Losing the toss and put into bat, Rahul partnered Mandeep Singh, who was playing his first of this leg. Krunal Pandya kept it tight inside the powerplay and scalped Mandeep Singh. Punjab were restricted to a score of below 40 after 6 overs.

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It was an intuitive move by Rohit Sharma, that he introduced Kieron Pollard into the attack and Pollard delivered more than what Rohit was expecting off him. He bowled a tempting short delivery to Gayle, to which the Universe Boss failed to resist and pulled it straight into the hands of the long on fielder. Couple of deliveries later, Rahul too was bounced out. Okay. Okay. Pollard didn't really bounce him out, but bowled it right above the shoulder, Rahul tried to pull it but only could manage to glove it straight into the bucket hands of Jasprit Bumrah and short fine. KL couldn't believe what he had done as he walked back dejected. Pollard achieved a milestone in the process, as it was his 300th wicket in T20s.

Nicholas Pooran's horrid run with the bat continued as he missed a full toss on leg and was plumb in front. He gone for the review out of desperation and wasted it. Aiden Markram then joined forces with Deepak Hooda and staged a proper rebuild. Without taking any risks, the duo played each ball to its merit and put up a 61 run stand for the fifth. Just as the duo were starting to tee off, Rahul chahar cleaned Markram up with a googly. The lower order couldn't really clear the ropes and were tied down by some excellent death bowling by Nathan Coulter Nile. 

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Chasing a modest 136, Mumbai were served with mixture of everything in terms of bowling up front. Bowling the fourth, young leggie Ravi Bishnoi got the priced scalp of Rohit Sharma, who tried to clear the field over mid on. Bishnoi continued the flow and bowled a googly outside off to which Surya Kumar Yadav looked to drive, leaving a big gap between bat and pad, allowing the ball to rattle onto the stumps. SKY is going through such bat form that couldn't even put bat to ball. 

De Kock and Saurabh Tiwary got together for the third wicket and put on a good stand, just like at it was in first innings. Sensing the game drifting away, Rahul brought on Shami who castled De Kock. Punjab looked like they were in with a real chance with the out of touch Hardik Pandya strode out to the middle at 5 and not many confident batters to come next. Hardik took the sensible approach and milked the bowling for ones and twos without really trying to go big. Tiwary played brilliantly for his 45 and got out to Nathan Ellis slower one.

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The power duo of Hardik and Pollard got together in the middle. This was a decisive partnership for Mumbai as this right here could've defined Mumbai's chances of making it to the playoffs this season. If they fail here, then it would've been very very hard for them to make it, not because they had less points, but because their confidence would've been shattered. But the muscle men didn't let that happen and smoked a few out of the park and completed the chase with an over to go. The game could've gotten even closer if not for Deepak Hooda's blunders in the field off successive deliveries, with the winning hit going right through his hands for a six.

Mumbai have started what they're known for. Giving their best when the backs are against the wall. But for Punjab, they're falling into a slippery slope and if they don't hold tight soon, their dream of first ever title, will be a far cry.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings135/6 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 42, Deepak Hooda 28; Kieron Pollard 2-8, Jasprit Bumrah 2-24)lost to Mumbai Indians 137/4 in 19 overs (Saurabh Tiwary 45, Hardik Pandya 40*; Ravi Bishnoi 2-25) by 6 wickets.