Shreyas Iyer guides Punjab to IPL final with Bengaluru

Shreyas Iyer delivered a masterclass of batting skill and run-chasing ingenuity during an innings of 87* as he led the Punjab Kings to victory by five-wickets with six balls to spare in their IPL Qualifier Match against the Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Mumbai totalled an impressive 203-6 but Punjab smashed the target on the back of captain Iyer’s magnificent, unbeaten 87 from just 41 balls with five glorious sixes and eight fours.

Opener Priyansh Arya provided a brisk start with 20 from 10 balls and Australian Josh Inglis maintained the tempo with 38 from 21 balls before a furiously contested dismissal when an edged hook against a Hardik Pandya bouncer was immediately reviewed before being given out – to the batsman’s obvious disgust.

But captain Iyer and Nehal Wadhera added 82 for the fourth wicket to bring Punjab firmly back into contention before Wadhera lashed a wide delivery to deep extra cover to depart for a bristling 48 from 29 balls (4x4, 2x6).

Shashank Singh (2) was carelessly run out ambling for a second run leaving Shreyas to do most of the hard-lifting at the back end of the run-chase.

Earlier it appeared to be a consummate batting performance from MI with consistently high-scoring throughout, Englishman Jonny Bairstow setting the tone with a rasping 38 from 24 balls at the top of the innings.

Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav both scored 44 from 29 and 26 balls respectively combining for six fours and five sixes while 25-year-old Naman Dhir provided the explosion at the end with 37 from 18 balls with seven fours.

The Punjab bowlers stuck gamely to their task with New Zealander Kyle Jamieson (4-0-30-1) especially impressive while Afghan seamer Azmatullah Omarzai claimed 2-43 and wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal finishing with 1-39 from his four overs.

The result means the Punjab Kings will now face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, also at the Narendra Modi Stadium, on Wednesday.

PUNJAB KINGS: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wkt), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

MUMBAI INDIANS: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley