Punjab beats Mumbai by 3 runs in IPL

The Kings XI Punjab held on for a three-run win over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match on Wednesday after defending a small total with strong bowling.

After being held to 119-8 at Kingsmead, Punjab's Yusuf Abdulla bowled with remarkable pace variation to take 2-19 while opening bowler Irfan Pathan claimed 2-20 as Mumbai were restricted to 116-7 in 20 overs.

Jean-Paul Duminy top-scored for Mumbai with 59 runs off 63 balls, but it proved insufficient to avoid the narrowest defeat of the tournament.

Needing sevens run off three balls to snatch the win, Duminy attempted to clear long on for a six off an Abdulla delivery, but was caught on the rope by substitute fielder Taruwar Kohli.

Kumar Sangakkara was the top batter for Punjab with an unbeaten 45 not out, while Lasith Malinga was the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai, taking 2-12 from his four overs.

Sangakkara was the only batsman to make a real impression against the Mumbai attack, with opener Karan Goel the next highest scorer with 12.

Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh said his team's low score was largely due to the conditions at Kingsmead.

"The wicket is slowing and the ball is not coming on to the bat," he said. "But we bowled well to defend the total."

Mumbai got off to the worst possible start, losing veteran openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya inside two overs.

Jayasuriya departed first without scoring, being beaten by Pathan's extra bounce to be caught by Yuvraj Singh in the slips. Tendulkar then found Mahela Jayawardena at mid off from a Vikramjeet Malik delivery.

"It was one of those days when the pressure goes up," Tendulkar said. "We lost three early wickets and they played good cricket. When it became close at the end we needed to keep wickets but it didn't happen that way."

Abdulla got his first wicket when an attempted yorker hit Shikhar Dhawan (3) on the toes to be given leg before, leaving Mumbai on 3-12.

Dwayne Bravo was caught by Wilkin Mota on 15 looking to clear long on, breaking a promising partnership with Duminy.

Pathan then bowled Abhishek Nayar for 15 and Harbhajan Singh (6) was caught by Karan Goel off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to leave score on 6-101.