English player shines as Punjab secures two opportunities to contest IPL final match
Punjab Kings secured a top-two position in the final group phase of the T20 tournament, ensuring a spot in the first qualifier on May 29. With this placement, Punjab will have two chances to reach the final set for June 3.
Chasing 185 for victory, Punjab relied on a 109-run second-wicket partnership between Inglis and Priyansh Arya to achieve their target with nine balls to spare in Jaipur. Arya made 62 before his dismissal in the 15th over, and Inglis fell shortly after, scoring his first IPL fifty while the team was still 14 runs short of victory. Inglis delivered nine fours and three sixes in his 42-ball knock. Skipper Shreyas Iyer finished the innings unbeaten on 26 off 16 deliveries, guiding the team to victory.
"Every individual stepped up at the right time," Iyer commented after the match. "We've had players putting their hands up when we were in difficult situations. (Coach) Ricky (Ponting) has been fantastic with player management, and it's crucial that I gain trust as well." Ponting praised Iyer, who was brought in for $3.17 million during the November auction. "It was pretty obvious with the amount of money we spent on him, we wanted him here," said Ponting. "He's a man who has been so good and has a sparkle for captaincy, he has led this team superbly."
Meanwhile, five-time champions Mumbai sit at the bottom of the top-four teams and will play the eliminator on May 30. "We just want to play good cricket going forward, figure out the right template for the batting group," Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya said. "Not much panic though, we knew what was at stake."
Gujarat's position in the final playoffs depends on the outcome of the final league match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. The winner of the first qualifier will advance directly to the final, while the loser will compete in the second qualifier for a spot in the title clash.
Mumbai amassed 184-7, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the scoring with 57 off 39 deliveries. South Africa's opener Ryan Rickelton contributed a brisk 27 in a 44-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, who scored 24. Wickets fell regularly throughout the Mumbai innings, including Rohit and England's Will Jacks, out for 17. Suryakumar collaborated with Pandya for a partnership of 44, during which Pandya aggressively targeted the opposition bowling, scoring 26 off 15 balls. However, after Pandya's dismissal, Naman Dhir and Suryakumar combined for a destructive 23 off the final over. Arshdeep Singh claimed Dhir's wicket at the start of the 20th over, and then trapped Suryakumar to close the over with two wickets and just three runs.
© 2025 AFP
References:[1] ICC T20I Rankings: https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/mens/t20i/player-rankings[2] Asia Cup 2025 format: https://www.icc-cricket.com/asian-cup/2022/format[3] ICC T20I Rankings (Teams): https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/mens/t20i/team-rankings[4] India’s strong T20I performance: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/31213087/india-vs-sri-lanka-review-india-confirm-status-worlds-best[5] ICC Champions Trophy qualification: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-champions-trophy-2025-1243934/format
"Following Punjab Kings' successful journey in the T20 tournament, one could imagine their potential in sports on the African continent, given their exceptional teamwork and strategic leadership."
"It's intriguing to consider South African talents like Ryan Rickelton, who contributed to Mumbai's scores, showing promise in international sports, perhaps even in the thrilling world of African T20 leagues."
