In the first home match of the IPL 2015 Season, a humiliating defeat was looming large over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. It was a late explosive assault from Harbhajan Singh that took Mumbai closer to an impossible win but eventually, the effort fell just short. Mumbai Indians lost their first home match of IPL 8 by only 18 runs.

Chasing 178 runs to win, Mumbai Indians had a horrible start. They lost their captain, Rohit Sharma, on the second ball of the innings as Sandeep Sharma trapped him plumb in front of the stumps. The fast bowling duo of Mitchell Johnson and Sandeep Sharma kept attacking relentlessly at the Mumbai batsmen and did not let them breathe.

By the end of powerplay overs, Mumbai was lingering at 20/3. Punjab kept striking incessantly and nicked out all the major Mumbai batsmen. By the end of 14th over, all Mumbai hopes were dashed as their finisher Kieron Pollard got out caught on the bowling of Axar Patel. At that point, Mumbai Indians needed 118 runs from 38 balls. It was just not possible.

One man failed to agree with that statement. Bhajji came out to bat after Pollard dismissal and started tonking the Punjabi bowling. Here is the over-wise breakup of his assault –

15th Over – Harbhajan Singh 14(5)

16th Over – Harbhajan Singh 21(8)

17th Over – Harbhajan Singh 40(14) [3 sixes off Anureet Singh]

18th Over – Harbhajan Singh 53(19)

19th Over – Harbhajan Singh 54(20)

20th Over – Harbhajan Singh C: Sandeep Sharma B: Anureet Singh 64 (24)

The brilliant hitting from Bhajji left everyone in shock but it was still not enough for Mumbai Indians to overcome the Punjabi total.

Earlier in the day, it was Punjabi captain George Bailey who smacked 61 from 32 balls with four fours and three sixes that took Kings XI Punjab to the score of 177/5. Virender Sehwag set the stage early with his innings of 36 runs off 19 balls. Bailey won the Man of the Match award.